The Smith School honored former dean Rudolph P. “Rudy” Lamone with a renaming of its entrepreneurship center, recognizing his pioneering legacy. Supported by a $3.8 million gift from Linda Lamone, the Dingman-Lamone Center continues to foster ventures, innovation and entrepreneurial education.

The Smith School hosted Nigeria’s acting ambassador, Samson Itegboje, to strengthen partnerships benefiting students. Leaders discussed collaboration in AI, healthcare, and business. Nigerian students’ contributions were celebrated, and the visit highlighted opportunities for cultural exchange, research, internships, and global cooperation between institutions.

Smith’s MBA veterans benefit from strong community, mentorship, and dedicated programs. Students Alexandra Pogany and Charles Castelly lead initiatives, while alumni Ryan McCarthy and Jim Bell credit Smith with transforming military experience into leadership and sustaining a vibrant veteran network.

The Smith School welcomed its largest-ever freshman class of nearly 700, a 17% increase from last year. At convocation, leaders, alumni, and peers encouraged involvement, growth, and exploration. Smith also welcomed new MBA, master’s, and doctoral students across programs.

Maryland football coach Michael Locksley is co-teaching a revised “Leadership and Teamwork” course with professor Sheetal Singh in the Smith School’s Master of Science in Management Studies program, emphasizing experiential learning on leadership and teamwork for about 60 students.

Business school deans from across the DMV gathered Aug. 15, 2025, at UMD’s Smith School to address AI, international students, enrollment and workforce challenges, underscoring collaboration between higher education and industry to strengthen economic resilience and future business education.

The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business is driving state policy and economic development through faculty-led, student-powered research partnerships with Maryland agencies, while providing experiential learning that equips students with analytical skills and real-world impact opportunities.

More than 37,000 learners worldwide have joined the Smith School’s free AI and Career Empowerment course—designed for transitioning federal workers but open to all—building AI literacy and career skills through expert-led, self-paced modules.

The Smith School’s new AI certificate program has drawn over 20,000 global enrollees since May. Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller visited July 1 to highlight its role in Maryland’s AI-driven workforce development.

The Smith School marked a milestone year—welcoming record-breaking classes, expanding experiential learning, deepening industry ties, and investing in AI and cross-campus partnerships—all while celebrating student success, faculty excellence, and generous alumni support shaping the school’s future.