Faculty Impact Articles

Smith School professor Vijaya Venkataramani, a 2024 Distinguished Scholar-Teacher Award recipient, shared insights on workplace creativity during her lecture. She explored how social networks, team dynamics and leadership influence innovation, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and psychological safety.

The AMA TechSIG honored Smith’s P.K. Kannan with its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award for his impactful research in marketing technology and innovation. Kannan, an expert in digital marketing and AI, shared the recognition with USC’s Gerard Tellis at the AMA Winter Conference.

Lemma W. Senbet, Dean’s Chaired Professor at the Smith School, has joined the Bretton Woods Committee, a leading advocate for global economic cooperation. A renowned finance scholar, Senbet was also inducted as a Fellow of the Academy of International Business in 2022.

AI job postings in the U.S. surged 68% since ChatGPT’s launch, despite a 17% decline in overall job postings. UMD-LinkUp AI Maps, led by Smith’s Anil K. Gupta, reveals AI’s rise as firms prioritize AI roles over traditional IT jobs.

Smith’s Teaching/Learning Innovation Grant supports Cliff Rossi’s experiential learning project, where students analyze climate risk impacts on mortgages using machine learning. The project develops industry-relevant skills, preparing students for top finance roles and advancing climate-risk insights in housing.

Anil K. Gupta and Haiyan Wang, MBA ’95, have been inducted into the 2024 Thinkers50 Hall of Fame for their leadership in analyzing globalization trends. Their combined 60 years of research and consulting includes co-founding the China India Institute and authoring several influential books.

Margrét Bjarnadóttir, associate professor at the Smith School, was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon for transformative research on pay equity.

T. Leigh Anenson, a business law professor at the Robert H. Smith School of Business since 2007, received the 2023 Distinguished Scholar-Teacher Award from the University of Maryland. Acknowledged for her outstanding scholarship and teaching, Anenson discussed her upcoming book on the national pension crisis in her lecture.

Justice for Fraud Victims (JFV) at UMD offers pro bono risk assessments for small businesses and nonprofits. Led by Samuel Handwerger, CPA-supervised assessments identify control weaknesses, providing pragmatic solutions without budget increases. Launched in 2023, JFV engages students in real fraud cases, supported by local law enforcement.

In September 2022, the proposed $24.6 billion merger of Krogers and Albertsons sparked controversy. The Federal Trade Commission intervened, citing concerns of reduced competition and higher prices. Amidst legal battles, a notable case study by Susan White at the University of Maryland explores the merger's implications, addressing shifting industry dynamics and antitrust concerns.