CSVC 24-25 Annual Report

2024-2025 Annual Report

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Table Of Contents Director’s Remarks

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About our Center

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Thought Provoking Dialogue

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Experiential Learning

8

Thought Leadership

14

Instructional Design

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Thank You to our Donors

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Advisory Board

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Our Team

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Director’s Remarks

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Dear Friends, Partners, and Impact Driven Leaders, This past year has been a period of dynamic progress and meaningful impact for our Center. I am profoundly grateful to our exceptional team, dedicated partners, engaged students, and supportive community. Our collective efforts have advanced CSVC’s mission to create a better world through business. I extend my deepest appreciation to our esteemed faculty affiliates, the CSVC Board, and our generous donors, whose unwavering support continues to propel our work in addressing the grand challenges of our time.

From hosting our Sustainability in Business Conference to launching the Water Parliament and engaging a record number of students in our Impact Consulting Fellowship and Case Competitions, I am incredibly proud of all we have accomplished this year. Building on this momentum, I am excited to expand our reach, deepen our impact, and continue driving meaningful change in the year ahead.

As the world around us changes we look to the year ahead. Our vision remains rooted in empowering students and strengthening our community. We are excited to launch and grow new programs that bring students closer to realworld challenges, expand access to purpose-driven career pathways, and foster deeper connections between business and community impact. With our incredible network of partners and supporters, we will continue to cultivate spaces where students can learn, lead, and create lasting change.

Nima Farshchi Executive Director, Center for Social Value Creation

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About our Center Founded in 2009, the Center for Social Value Creation operates with a mission to educate, engage, and empower the Smith School community and the world to create a better world through business.

We do this through thought-provoking dialogue, thought leadership, and experiential learning.

We operate with the goal of creating long-term value for both people and the planet and strive to engrain that passion into the lives of future business leaders. Within the business school, we serve as a tool for students who are interested in creating value by helping them learn how to put that drive into action and tackle the grand challenges of our time!

Creating a Better World Through Business Total Events Held

18 Subscribers to the Here&Now Newsletter

~3,500

Individuals Engaged Through Social Media

10,000+ Total Event Attendees

1,300+

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THOUGHT PROVOKING DIALOGUE At the Center for Social Value Creation, thought provoking dialogue empowers students to think boldly, question deeply, and lead with purpose. Through initiatives like the TATA Innovation Dialogue and Lunch & Learns with industry leaders, we spark meaningful conversations that connect classroom learning with real-world impact. These experiences inspire students to become changemakers who drive innovation and create lasting social value in their communities and beyond.

TATA INNOVATION DIALOGUE LUNCH & LEARN SERIES

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th

6 Annual TATA Innovation Dialogue

On November 20, we proudly hosted our 6th annual TATA Innovation Dialogue, an event dedicated to exploring career pathways in consulting and social innovation, featuring distinguished leaders from India’s largest business conglomerate.

The evening opened with a compelling keynote from Anupam Singhal, President of Manufacturing at Tata Consultancy Services. He offered valuable perspectives on the convergence of artificial intelligence and manufacturing, emphasizing the potential of emerging technologies to enhance consumer experiences and deliver meaningful, purpose-driven solutions.

Anupam Singhal President of Manufacturing TATA Consultancy Services

Michael McCabe

Attendees also had the privilege of hearing from Michael Chief Representative and Ambassador McCabe, Resident Director of Tata Group - North Tata Group in North America America, who introduced the Tata Global Internships Program. This immersive opportunity allows students to gain hands-on experience in consulting and innovation with the Tata Group in India, fostering global insight and professional growth. The event served as a powerful reminder of how cross-cultural collaboration and innovation can drive both personal and societal impact.

Lunch & Learn Series

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This year, we hosted a series of seven Lunch & Learns an engaging way for students to gain insights from a diverse array of experts from leading universities and companies. By participating in these events, students have been able to ask questions, share ideas, and build lasting connections with experienced professionals, enhancing their college careers and expanding their professional networks.

David Miller Founder, New Forest Ventures

David Simnick Managing Partner, Impact Driven Brands

Matt Hoffman Managing Partner, HousingTech

Philip-Michael Weiner, ‘11

Sunny Singh Founder, Roundglass Living

Pam Hacker, ‘96 Vice President of Social Impact, Kyndryl

Co-Founder, Recapture

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Lunch & Learn Series

Nira Johri, KFC Guest Speaker On April 22, 2025, Undergraduate and Masters classes had the unique opportunity to hear from Nira Johri, ‘03, KFC’s first-ever Chief Sustainability Officer. With over 100 students in attendance, Johri shared insights from her global career and highlighted KFC’s Done the Right Way strategy, which focuses on driving impact across people, food, and the planet.

Nira Johri, ‘03

Drawing from her experience at Unilever, Rich Products, and the Obama administration, Johri offered students real-world perspectives on how businesses are navigating sustainability challenges and aligning profitability with purpose. The session allowed students to engage directly with a leader shaping the future of corporate responsibility, providing valuable context to classroom concepts.

By bridging academic learning with current industry perspectives, the event helped spark meaningful dialogue around the evolving role of business in society.

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EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING At the Center for Social Value Creation, experiential learning equips students with the skills, confidence, and mindset to tackle real-world challenges through hands-on experience. Through our Impact

Consulting

Fellowship,

students

deliver

pro-bono

consulting services to mission-driven organizations, turning their knowledge

into

meaningful

action.

With

multiple

case

competitions each semester, students collaborate, innovate, and solve complex problems—preparing them to lead with impact from day one.

IMPACT CONSULTING FELLOWSHIP CASE COMPETITIONS

Impact Consulting Fellowship

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Our Impact Consulting Fellowship (ICF) is one of our most esteemed and long-running programs. This unique program gives students across our campuses the opportunity to provide hands-on, pro-bono consulting services within an interdisciplinary team of MBA, Master’s, Doctoral and Undergraduate students for impact-driven organizations.

Throughout

ICF,

student

consultants

attend

professional development sessions to assist in their learning showcase

of

critical

their

presentation

consulting

learnings

that

concludes

in

skills. a

the

Students

final

huddle

program.

All

participants leave this program having gained handson

experiences

in

consulting

and

developing

beneficial connections with other impact leaders. This year, 226 students participated in and engaged over 22

organizations.

Students

provided

creative

marketing solutions, frameworks for new product launches, in-depth research results to solve complex business issues, and more.

Participants

Pro-Bono Consulting Hours

Clients Served

163

13,040

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CASE COMPETITIONS Our Case Competitions empower students to become changemakers by challenging them to solve complex, real-world business problems for mission-driven organizations. Over the course of two to three weeks, interdisciplinary teams dive deep into research, apply strategic thinking, and deliver innovative solutions to impact-driven for-profit companies, B Corporations, and nonprofits. This opportunity employs students to gain more than just consulting experience: they cultivate leadership, sharpen critical skills, and build networks that extend well beyond the competition. Our program not only prepares the next generation of socially conscious business leaders but also delivers tangible value to organizations seeking fresh, purpose-driven insights.

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Case Competitions

Smith Invitational Case Competition On January 13th, we hosted the virtual Smith Invitational Case Competition, where twelve teams of undergraduate students tackled a sustainabilityfocused investment challenge centered on electric vehicle manufacturers.

Teams analyzed financial and environmental performance to determine the strongest investment opportunity, presenting creative and data-driven solutions to a panel of judges. The winning team earned the opportunity to represent Smith at the national Milgard Case Competition on Social Responsibility at the University of Washington, Tacoma.

Milgard International Case Competition On March 12th, Maryland students Marvi Shroff, Eileen Chen, Meilin Yuan, and Jiayi Wang earned first place at the 14th annual Milgard Invitational Case Competition, beating out 19 other teams from 3 continents and bringing global recognition to the Smith School of Business. After winning the Smith Invitational Case Competition hosted by the Center for Social Value Creation, the team advanced to compete against top international universities and impressed judges with their strategic recommendation to invest in Airbus. Their success highlights Smith students’ growing expertise in sustainable finance and impact-driven consulting.

It was an incredible experience gaining hands-on expertise in conducting indepth investment research and delivering a presentation of this caliber ~ Jiayi Wang, Junior

Case Competitions

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Interfraternal Case Competition Fall 2024

On October 30th, seventy members from professional business fraternities gathered for our Fall Interfraternal case competition focused on ESG investing and social impact, drawing an audience of more than 150 students. The event fostered experiential learning and inspired creative, real-world solutions to pressing sustainability challenges. A panel of six alumni and graduate students from various programs evaluated the presentations and celebrated the winning team from Phi Chi Theta.

Spring 2025

On April 18th, nearly 100 pledges from the four business fraternities participated in our spring Interfraternal case competition that challenged students to implement AI solutions in healthcare while navigating ethical, financial, and sustainability considerations. Held in partnership with KPMG, the event drew over 200 attendees and showcased the strategic thinking of first-year business students. A panel of Smith alumni judges awarded first place to the Delta Sigma Pi team for their well-rounded and forwardthinking proposal.

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Case Competitions

Master’s & MBA Case Competition

On November 21st, we proudly hosted our Master’s & MBA Case Competition in partnership with Bethesda Green! In this sustainabilityfocused case, 10 teams of 4 Smith graduate students developed strategies to expand and promote Bethesda Green’s Green Business Certification Program. In their final presentations, teams showcased innovative thinking and actionable plans to strengthen the program’s reach and impact.

Undergraduate Case Competition On April 18th, we hosted our Spring Undergraduate Case Competition in partnership with Gallo, tasking students with developing marketing strategies for Nobilo, the official wine of Major League Pickleball. Six cross-campus teams delivered strategic recommendations to a panel of industry and faculty judges, aiming to grow Nobilo’s consumer base beyond the pickleball community. The competition provided students with real-world consulting experience and a platform to apply their marketing skills in a dynamic, brand-focused challenge.

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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP At the Center for Social Value Creation, thought leadership means elevating bold ideas and driving conversations that shape the future of business for good. By hosting events like our Sustainability in Business Conference in Washington, D.C., and partnering with organizations like the U.S. Water Parliament, we bring students to the forefront of critical global issues. Through these high-impact platforms, we empower the next generation of leaders to influence policy, business strategy, and sustainable innovation.

SUSTAINABILITY IN BUSINESS CONFERENCE WATER PARLIAMENT

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Sustainability in Business Conference 2

The 2024 Sustainability in Business Conference served as a dynamic platform for advancing the role of business in addressing today’s most pressing global challenges. Bringing together more than 150 cross-sector leaders, the conference inspired bold thinking around climate action, equity, and innovation as strategic imperatives.

Through compelling keynotes, from Jennifer Jenkins, MBA ‘16, on the race to net zero to Michael Levine on integrating holistic sustainability at Under Armour, and thought-provoking panels on topics like green marketing, climate justice, and conscious capitalism, attendees explored practical strategies for embedding sustainability into leadership, operations, and long-term value creation. The event not only sparked collaboration across industries but reaffirmed CSVC’s commitment to shaping a purpose-driven business landscape for a more equitable and sustainable future.

Register now for our 2025 Conference, Sept. 19th, 2025!

GO.UMD.EDU/REGISTERSIBC2025

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Sustainability in Business Conference Keynote Speakers Michael Levine Chief Sustainability Officer, Under Armour Sustainability Strategy: The Importance of taking a holistic approach to sustainability

Ben Garthwaite, ‘07 CEO, Fors Marsh

Values-Driven Leadership: The Power of Conscious Capitalism in Action

Steven Rochlin Founder, IMPACT ROI

Leading with Purpose: Unlocking the Path to Sustainable Success

Jennifer Jenkins, MBA ‘16 Chief Science Officer, Rubicon Carbon

The Race to Net Zero: How Leading Companies are Setting and Meeting their Targets

Rachelle Sampson Associate Professior, Robert H. Smith School of Business

Steve Freishtat, ‘81 CEO & Founder, NextDay Blinds Corporation

The Race to Net Zero: How Leading Companies are Setting and Meeting their Targets

Values-Driven Leadership: The Power of Conscious Capitalism in Action

Sustainability in Business Conference Panel Speakers 17

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Dr. Subramanya Kusnur

Michael Kennedy

Founder, AquaKraft Ventures

Lead, Green Mechanics Benefit LLC

Founding a Social Enterprise

Innovation in Sustainability

Dave Feldman, ‘84, MBA ‘91

C'pher Gresham Co-Founder, Front Row

Executive Director, Bethesda Green

Founding a Social Enterprise

Innovation in Sustainability

Evan Lutz, ‘14

Carline Noailles

CEO & Founder, Hungry Harvest

Co-Founder & Managig Partner, JESCA Solutions

Founding a Social Enterprise

NGO Development, Private Public Partnerships

Krisztina Christmon, PhD ‘22

Alphonse I. Kouagou, MBA ‘00

Co-Founder, Repurpose Farm Plastic

Founder & CEO, IBI Finance Ventures

Innovation in Sustainability

NGO Development, Private Public Partnerships

Larry Davis, ‘19

Cedric Nwafor, MS ‘18

Lead, Green Mechanics Benefit LLC

CEO, Roots Africa Inc.

Innovation in Sustainability

NGO Development, Private Public Partnerships

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Sustainability in Business Conference Panel Speakers Bidjan Nashat

Lisa Manley

Co-Founder, PotentialU

Vice-President, Sustainability, Mars

NGO Development, Private Public Partnerships

Humanitarian Rights & Climate Justice

Sophia Maroon

Garrett Zink, ‘14

Founder & CEO, Dress it Up Dressing

Director, Social Impact, Marriott International

Green Marketing

Humanitarian Rights & Climate Justice

Maggie Biscarr

Co-Lead, The NOURISH Movement

Green Marketing

Amna Kirmani Dean’s Chair of Marketing, Robert H. Smith School of Business

Green Marketing

Grace Niratcha Associate Clinical Professor, Robert H. Smith School of Business

Humanitarian Rights & Climate Justice

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Water Parliament Through Water Parliament, we are shifting the paradigm from water crisis to water opportunity. We are building a world where clean, accesible, and sustainable water is not a privilege, but a right.

~ Dr. Subramanya Kusnur

In partnership with AquaKraft Projects Pvt. Ltd., the Center for Social Value Creation embarked on a forward-thinking initiative to advance global water sustainability and equity. Central to this collaboration is the Water Parliament, a multi-stakeholder platform designed to democratize water governance by convening voices from government, business, academia, and civil society to co-create scalable, action-oriented solutions. Complementing this effort is Aqoin, AquaKraft’s innovative digital token ecosystem, which incentivizes sustainable water practices through a “Water Credits” model; transforming responsible behavior into measurable value.

Throughout the year, CSVC applied systems-level thinking and social innovation frameworks, such as design thinking and ESG alignment, to support strategic partnerships and real-world solutions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Key contributions included co-hosting policy forums, advancing research for Aqoin pilots, and exploring new ways to quantify and communicate water impact—reinforcing our commitment to sustainable, inclusive change.

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Instructional Design CSVC offers classes to help students turn their passion for impact into real-world skills. These courses prepare future leaders to drive change through business.

Strategic Management with a Sustainable Mindset This course examines how sustainability intersects with supply chain management, providing students with tools to create environmentally and socially responsible operations. It covers ethical practices, certification frameworks, real-world case studies, and technologies like AI, showing how sustainability can boost innovation, cut costs, and improve efficiency. The course also highlights the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships and aligning supply chain strategies with broader corporate goals.

Consulting and Venture Creation This course offers an applied, experiential learning experience focused on solving real-world problems for mission-driven organizations. Students work in multidisciplinary teams on consulting projects for nonprofits, social enterprises, or sustainable companies, developing critical thinking, teamwork, and entrepreneurial skills. The class blends lectures, workshops, and project-based assignments to support both individual and group learning.

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Instructional Design Value Creation Challenge Founded as a partnership with Sigma Chi Fraternity’s Gamma Chi Chapter, this course enables students to collaborate with peers across campus on consulting projects for purpose-minded organizations. In this class, thirty students learned from Professor Oliver Schlake about developing business models that tackle relevant social and environmental issues. This year, the class partnered with the Yokogawa Corporation of America to analyze the future of water access.

Dr. Oliver Schlake

Academic Partners

Thank You to Our Donors

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Our donors make our programs, pro-bono consulting, case competitions, speaker events, and more possible for our students and the greater community. This year we were able to reach a record high number of donations. We thank each of our donors for their generosity and commitment to making the world a better place through business.

Annual Report Level Donors Pallavi Agarwal Ritu Agarwal Terry Antony Marni Aronson Alexia Ayuk Allison Baker Kathryn Balcerzak Vincent Bennett Swamy Boggarapu Ayman Bootwala Jianlin Cao Melissa Carrier Enming Chen Brina Cheung John & Margaret Chickering Matthew Chin Ange Cho Nicole Coomber Elizabeth Cunningham Benjamin Cutler Rebecca DeStefano Meghan Doherty Claudia Donnelly Bradley Estes Kristin Fallon Hamid Farshchi Hassan Farshchi Nima Farshchi

Steven & Sheryl Freishtat Kimberlee Glinka Dillon Hagius John Hagius Shirley Han Faben Henok Joanna Ihm Dhivyan Karunakaran Omer Kaufman Firouzeh Khaje Nouri Sachi Khemka Rebecca & Craig Kier Jacob King David Kirsch Michael Kong Roxanne Lefkoff Matthew Leib Soda Lo Evan & Lauren Lutz Kathryn Manning Francisco Manzanarez Collin Marcian Gianna Mariani Luna Mishoe Isaac Moore Jessica Moore Sareet Nayak Peterson Njamunge

Corporate Donors

Adam Ortiz Anjali Pancholi Sankya Parvatrao Reuben Pomerantz Kislaya Prasad Paulo Prochno Nakisa Rafiee Benjamin Roca Joseph Rotter Teresa Russell Travon Sawyer Eric & Patricia Schultz Kushaan Shah Rahul Shah Denys Shalayev Ajay Shankar Kapil Sharma Victoria Shi Alexander Stone Andres Suarez Lori Sullivan Kevin Takiar Cullen Taylor Sarah Taylor Omobolaji Vincent Mary & Matthew Wagner Rebecca & Darrell Winner Anne Zappas

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Advisory Board JOHN CHICKERING, MBA ‘85 John Chickering advises boards and senior executives on strategy, technology, and operations. He is a member of advisory boards at the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, as well as other post-secondary institutions. His career at Fidelity Investments spanned over two decades deploying high-ROl solutions which created a long-lasting financial and social impact. He is a published author and industry speaker. His extensive volunteer engagement includes post-hurricane restoration and engagement with local community service organizations.

CORINNE DOUGHERTY, ‘03 Corinne Dougherty is the U.S. sustainability audit leader at KPMG in Washington, D.C., with over 20 years of experience in audit, advisory, and sustainability reporting. She advises clients, speaks frequently to media, and helps embed sustainable practices across KPMG’s services. A CPA, Dougherty holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Maryland and an executive certificate in sustainability from NYU Stern.

KRISTIN FALLON, MBA ‘11 Kristin Fallon is a marketing executive and board member at the International Advertising Association (IAA). Her extensive global background spans a diverse range of industries and establishments at the heart of human impact, including innovative technology companies from start-ups to GE, and international aid groups from NGOs to the World Bank. Kristin began her career as a volunteer in the Peace Corps.

STEVE FREISHTAT, ‘81 Steve Freishtat is the former CEO and Founder of the Next Day Blinds Corporation. He serves on multiple advisory boards, is an adjunct lecturer at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, and advises small businesses on business strategy. He is committed to the advancement of business through conscious workplace leadership.

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Advisory Board JENNIFER JENKINS, MBA ‘16 Dr. Jennifer Jenkins is Chief Science Officer at Rubicon Carbon, where she ensures the quality of the carbon credit portfolio and leads ESG strategy, verification, and thought leadership. With over 30 years of experience in business and climate, she co-chairs the Business Alliance for Climate Action and is a co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Prize with the IPCC. Jenkins, known for the “Jenkins Equations” for tree biomass, holds degrees from UNH, Maryland, Yale, and Dartmouth.

EVAN LUTZ, ‘14 Evan Lutz, a Baltimore native, is passionate about food justice, entrepreneurship, and the Ravens. As a Maryland student, he launched the Food Recovery CSA, then founded Hungry Harvest, a subscription service rescuing “ugly” and surplus produce. Since 2014, the company has saved over 50 million pounds of food. Lutz earned a $100,000 investment on ABC’s “Shark Tank” and was named to Forbes' “30 Under 30” and the Baltimore Business Journal’s “40 Under 40.”

KAPIL SHARMA Kapil Sharma is the founder and principle of Kapstone Strategies, a consulting firm offering integrated problem-solving for corporate executives. He is a Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council. He brings public policy foresight and expertise built over thirty years of working with organizations and leaders at the state, national, and international levels.

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Our Team

NIMA FARSHCHI, ‘14, MBA ‘20 Executive Director

STEPHANIE CANTOR, ‘12 Strategic Consultant

DAVID KIRSCH Faculty Director

LUCA MANCINO*

ROHAN HILL*

Operations Lead Marketing & Supply Chain Management, ‘25

Marketing Strategy Lead Communication & Marketing, ‘26

EILEEN CHEN

JAMIE BERNSTEIN*

Project Management Lead Finance & Information Systems, ‘26

Digital Media & Marketing Lead Marketing, ‘27

KEOLA EVANS

CHRISTOPHER YEH

Case Competition Lead International Business & Marketing, ‘26

Cirricular Research Lead Information Systems & Supply Chain Management, ‘26

JIAYI WANG

BRINA CHEUNG

Impact Consulting Fellowship Lead Finance & Information Systems, ‘26

Digital Media & Marketing Lead M.S. - Marketing Analytics, ‘24

* - Denotes responsibility for compiling Annual Report

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Robert H. Smith School of Business Center for Social Value Creation 3440 Van Munching Hall College Park, MD 20742