H. Kent Baker Center for Behavioral Finance
The H. Kent Baker Center for Behavioral Finance at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business focuses on how people make financial decisions.
Paying It Forward
H. Kent Baker’s career was shaped at Maryland and transformed finance through behavioral research. His legacy includes decades of scholarship, a major gift to Smith and hands-on student experiences, as the school advances finance education, policy impact and industry-ready training.
In Memoriam: H. Kent Baker
H. Kent Baker, MBA ’69, DBA ’72, M.Ed. ’74, renowned finance scholar, major benefactor of the Robert H. Smith School of Business and 1856 Society donor at the University of Maryland, passed away on January 22, 2026.
With Major Gift, Business School to Create Behavioral Finance Center
The Smith School will launch the H. Kent Baker Center for Behavioral Finance, supported by alumnus Baker. His gift funds faculty, research, and student opportunities, advancing global understanding of psychology’s role in financial decision-making.