The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business is the top-ranked business school in Maryland, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Graduate Schools list.

UMD and American University students competed in the seventh annual Smith Analytics Consortium Datathon, using Maryland data to propose transit-linked mixed-use communities. A cross-university team won top honors, while state and industry partners praised students’ real-world, data-driven solutions and collaboration.

Film producer Mark Ciardi spoke at UMD’s Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series, sharing his journey from student-athlete to MLB pitcher to Hollywood executive, and offering career advice on resilience, relationships and embracing an underdog mindset to succeed across industries.

The University of Maryland’s Smith School opened a new Baltimore Peninsula campus for its Flex MBA program, offering modern space for working professionals and strengthening connections with Baltimore’s business community through partnerships, networking and proximity to major employers.

Albert “Pete” Kyle’s landmark 1985 paper on insider trading was honored at a University of Maryland conference, where scholars and industry experts examined its lasting influence on market structure, liquidity and asset pricing more than four decades later.

The University of Maryland’s Smith School received $1.031 million in federal funding to help Maryland small businesses adopt AI, offering tools, training and research to improve efficiency, expand access and support economic growth statewide, officials said.

William J. “Bill” Fishlinger ’71, CEO of Gramercy Risk Holdings, shared lessons on leadership, risk and decision-making at the Smith School’s Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series, emphasizing responsibility, curiosity, communication, innovation and perspective in business.

University of Maryland football coach Michael Locksley partnered with business faculty to co-teach a leadership course, sharing career insights with students. A campus discussion highlighted lessons on resilience, values, accountability and preparing students and athletes for success beyond football future.

In less than a year, the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business has enrolled more than 50,000 learners worldwide in its free online Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Career Empowerment, launched in May 2025 to boost AI literacy and support career transitions.

Jennifer Goforth BSOS ’94, a West Coast native with deep family ties to Maryland, has returned to campus as chief development officer at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. She will advance the university’s Forward campaign and support Dean Prabhudev Konana’s strategic priorities.