2025-2026 ANNUAL REPORT A year of growth, impact, and student-driven change
TABLE OF CONTENTS OUR STORY 03 04 05 06
Executive Summary This Year at CSVC Growing our Reach & Impact Turning Growth into Opportunity
OUR PROGRAMS 07 08 09 10 11
Impact Consulting Fellowship Case Competitions Creating Spaces for Real-World Engagement Bringing Big Ideas to the Table Learning Beyond the Classroom
OUR COMMUNITY 12 13 14 15 16
The Student Experience A CSVC Journey What We’re Leaving With Powered by our Community Lasting Impact Beyond Campus
BEHIND THE IMPACT 17 18 19 20 22 24 25
Looking Ahead Who we Reached Alumni Impact Advisory Board Our Team Donors & Supporters Get Involved
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A LETTER FROM OUR LEADERSHIP
This year, CSVC continued to turn ideas into action. Students expanded their impact through hands-on consulting, case competitions, classroom partnerships, and conversations with leaders shaping the future of business and society. It was a year defined by growth. From welcoming the Assistant SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations and CEO of the UN Global Compact, to drawing over 125 attendees to our Sustainability in Business Conference, engaging over 150 participants across the Impact Consulting Fellowship, hosting 13 Lunch & Learns that welcomed more than 845 attendees and featured globally recognized leaders in sustainability, finance, and social impact, and standing as the highest-raising organization on Giving Day, our community continued to create opportunities that connected learning with meaningful action. Our programs brought together students, alumni, faculty, and industry partners to tackle real-world challenges, strengthen purpose-driven leadership, and prepare the next generation to create lasting social and environmental impact. Across every initiative, one thing remained clear: meaningful change begins when people come together with curiosity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to doing business differently. Thank you for helping make this another year of growth, innovation, and impact. We can't wait to see what we'll build together next. NIMA FARSHCHI, ‘14, MBA ’20 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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THIS YEAR AT CSVC A year of connection, collaboration, and meaningful impact.
Sustainability in Business Conference A flagship conference connecting students with leaders shaping sustainable business.
Impact Consulting Fellowship Hands-on consulting projects that create meaningful impact for community partners.
Case Competitions Teams tackle real-world business challenges and present innovative solutions.
Business Impact Challenge Series A series of challenges designed to turn ideas into meaningful action.
Lunch & Learns Informal conversations with professionals sharing their experiences and insights.
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GROWING OUR REACH & IMPACT More students. More partners. More impact.
STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
EVENT ATTENDANCE
PROGRAM APPLICANTS
+39%
+18%
1,300 24-25
It has been really rewarding to see Center initiatives and student ideas come together, allowing CSVC to continue its mission with renewed energy. What makes CSVC so special is the student team behind it, whose creativity and dedication continue to bring new ideas and drive the Center forward year after year. - Christopher Yeh, ‘26 OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS
1,800 25-26
654 24-25
770 25-26
STUDENTS ENROLLED IN IMPACT-DRIVEN COURSES
LINKEDIN FOLLOWERS
+33%
+58%
81 24-25
108 25-26
2,045 24-25
3,226 25-26
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TURNING GROWTH INTO OPPORTUNITY Our growth created more opportunities to lead, learn, and make a difference.
THE IMPACT MORE HANDS-ON IMPACT
45,000
Consulting Hours
MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT
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Events Hosted MORE COMMUNITY REACH
3,600+
Newsletter Subscribers
MORE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
1,500+
Students Engaged
STUDENT IMPACT IN ACTION
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PUTTING LEARNING TO ACTION Hands-on experiences that make an impact.
IMPACT CONSULTING FELLOWSHIP The Impact Consulting Fellowship (ICF) gives students the opportunity to work directly with mission-driven organizations to solve real-world business challenges through pro bono consulting. Throughout the semester, interdisciplinary teams partner with nonprofits, startups, B Corporations, and socially responsible businesses to develop strategic solutions that create meaningful social and environmental impact. Working alongside experienced Consultant Advisors, many of whom are accomplished UMD alumni, students strengthen their consulting, leadership, and problem-solving skills while delivering actionable recommendations that help organizations advance their missions.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT The ICF program was an incredibly valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the consulting world. Being able to work directly with a client to address a real business challenge while making a tangible impact made the work feel especially meaningful. I truly appreciated the opportunity to develop and strengthen my consulting skills through such a practical client focused experience. - Lauren Fritz, ‘27
156 PARTICIPANTS
315 APPLICANTS
23 CLIENTS
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PUTTING LEARNING TO ACTION STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Hands-on experiences that make an impact.
CASE COMPETITIONS Our Case Competitions empower students to become changemakers by challenging them to solve complex, real-world business problems for mission-driven organizations. Through strategic partnerships with impact-driven for-profit companies, B Corporations, and nonprofits, interdisciplinary teams spend two to three weeks conducting research, applying strategic thinking, and delivering innovative solutions that address each organization’s unique challenges. By collaborating with student teams, partners gain fresh perspectives, actionable recommendations, and strategic insights to advance their missions and strengthen their impact. These partnerships create meaningful opportunities for organizations to explore new ideas, overcome challenges, and drive positive social and environmental change.
Participating in the Smith Invitational Case Competition challenged me to think beyond traditional financial metrics and consider how ESG and corporate responsibility shape longterm business success. It was incredibly rewarding to apply those concepts to a real-world investment case, and winning the competition gave our team the opportunity to represent Smith at the Milgard Case Competition in Seattle, making the experience even more meaningful! - Srimahi Ghorakavi, ‘27
770
8
6
ATTENDEES
COMPETITIONS
PARTNERSHIPS
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CREATING SPACES FOR REAL-WORLD ENGAGEMENT Connecting students with ideas, people, and opportunities.
SUSTAINABILITY IN BUSINESS CONFERENCE The theme of this year’s Sustainability in Business Conference was Driving Change Through Bold Leadership. Industry leaders, faculty, and students joined in conversations spanning food in sustainability, impact investing, and fashion in sustainability. Attendees heard directly from keynote speakers, joined panel discussions with industry leaders, and connected with peers and professionals over networking opportunities throughout the day.
LUNCH & LEARNS Across 13 sessions this year, students engaged in smallgroup dialogue with speakers spanning sustainability, venture capital, and purposeful leadership, drawing 845 attendees total throughout the year. Each session offered a conversational setting where students could ask candid questions and gain perspective directly from professionals shaping their fields.
TATA INNOVATION DIALOGUE Students engaged directly with P.C. Thomas, Head of Tata’s Retail Business Unit, in a discussion on technology and innovation in retail, alongside a dedicated conversation on the Tata Global Internships Program open to all majors and class years. The dialogue left students with a clearer view of how a global company navigates change in a fast-moving industry.
As yummy as the lunch aspect of a Lunch & Learn may be, what I have always loved most about them is learning about all of the endless possibilities for how to bring value to others. Hearing from entrepreneurs and business leaders who started out just like us college students but carved a path for themselves in such a competitive sphere is inspiring and so valuable. On top of that, each Lunch & Learn brings a different skill and perspective to adopt through the cases we analyze and the real-life experiences that are shared during the sessions. These events always have me walking away with new knowledge, fresh perspectives, and a deeper appreciation for the impact we can have on others. - Alexis Iwuchukwu, ‘27
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BRINGING BIG IDEAS TO THE TABLE Meaningful conversations. Real world perspectives. Lasting impact.
BY THE NUMBERS Interdisciplinary Collaboration Bringing ideas across disciplines to solve shared challenges. These connections inspire new perspectives and lasting impact. Innovative Ideas Highlighting emerging technologies and ideas. These conversations spark fresh thinking that students carry well beyond the room. Industry Dialogue Connecting students with leaders across sectors. These exchanges turn textbook concepts into real-world perspective.
13 LUNCH & LEARN SESSIONS
845 STUDENTS ENGAGED
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LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Bringing real-world learning into the classroom.
Carbon Offset Simulation Students in multiple classes partnered with the Office of Sustainability on an interactive simulation, stepping into a company's shoes to strategize and build a carbon offset credit portfolio.
108 STUDENTS ENROLLED
Project LIFT Launch Supported the launch of Project LIFT, a UMD student organization that helps local small businesses use technology to grow.
60 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECTS
Smith DMAT Pitch & Debate Collaborated in an evening of highenergy debate that brought students together to sharpen their public speaking and argumentation skills.
17 GUEST SPEAKERS
Experiential Learning Projects BMGT468W students had the opportunity to work on experiential learning projects with community partners, each paired with a consulting advisor to guide their work.
15 IMPACT DRIVEN COURSES
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THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE More than programs -it’s a community that inspires you to grow.
The CSVC community has brought me to the center of what it means to be a part of Smith. By connecting students, faculty and alumni you catalyze your embrace of our community. - Vasiley Syomin, ‘27
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A CSVC JOURNEY One student’s journey. Countless opportunities.
GETTING STARTED Attend a Lunch & Learn and discover a community focused on impact while enjoying a delicious lunch.
FAVORITE EXPERIENCES Working with Connor’s Kindness Project through ICF
GETTING INVOLVED Participate in events, join the Impact Consulting Fellowship, and attend case competitions.
WHAT I’M TAKING AWAY GROWING & LEADING
I am taking away valuable hands-on experience in consulting that I wouldn't have been able to learn in a classroom. As a team lead, I've been able to sharpen my approach to management, leadership, and client interfacing, while applying what I've learned to help the nonprofit refine its operations and increase engagement. - Nicole Chan, ‘28
Take on leadership roles as a Team Lead and mentor new participants.
LOOKING FORWARD Use your experiences and new connections to secure an internship or job with an impactdriven company.
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WHAT WE‘RE LEAVING WITH Reflection from our graduating seniors.
Leadership
Growth
Connection
Purpose
CSVC played a huge role in shaping my experience at Smith by creating opportunities that challenged me beyond the classroom. Thanks to CSVC's support, my team and I had the opportunity to represent the University of Maryland on a global stage at the Milgard Invitational Case Competition on Social Responsibility, where we earned first place! It was an unforgettable experience that challenged me to think differently, strengthened my confidence, and remains one of the highlights of my college career. - Marvi Shroff, ‘26
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POWERED BY OUR COMMUNITY None of this is possible without our incredible network. FACULTY PARTNERS
34 COMMUNITY & CORPORATE PARTNERS
39 ALUMNI PARTNERSHIPS
73 Purposeful businesses are essential components of a prosperous society. Being able to speak with rising leaders about the potential for businesses to architect themselves in a way where profit and purpose can co-exist was a meaningful opportunity to inspire and challenge them to think about the beauty of the simultaneous solve. It's not an "either/or"; it's an "and." The discussion was energetic throughout, showing their incredible curiosity and passion to bring forth something better. We need to continue to teach future leaders about our own learnings at conferences like SIBC. - Margaret Rogers, CEO at Pariveda Solutions, BS '97, BS '00
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LASTING IMPACT BEYOND CAMPUS Our work reaches far beyond campuscreating ripple effects in communities and organizations.
This spring, an Impact Consulting Fellowship team partnered with Warrior Canine Connection, a nonprofit that trains service dogs to support veterans recovering from trauma, made possible by Katherine Kane, MBA ‘22, and longtime CSVC contributor who has served as an ICF participant, Team Lead, and Advisor. The team worked to strengthen the organization's UMD student club by growing it into a model program for raising service dogs on campus. The team tackled fundraising, recruiting and supporting student Puppy Raisers, and finding creative ways to make campus more accommodating for dogs in training. The partnership reflects ICF's broader mission: pairing student consultants with organizations doing meaningful work, giving students real, hands-on experience solving problems that matter and affect the greater community.
ICF Client Spotlight: Warrior Canine Connection
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LOOKING AHEAD TO GREATER IMPACT We’re just getting started. Here’s what’s next.
Expanding Water Governance Partnerships
Deepening Strategic Partnerships
Advancing the B Corp Movement
Deepening our collaboration with global Water Parliament initiatives to bring student-led solutions to water equity challenges worldwide.
Growing our network of corporate, nonprofit, and university collaborators to create more pathways from classroom to impact.
Positioning UMD students and alumni as the next generation of B Corp leaders, embedding purpose-driven practices into how they build companies.
Reaching Every Terp
Launching Maryland Impact Consulting Fellowship
Growing Our Reach
Scaling programming so social impact isn’t a niche path, it’s a lens every student regardless of major or mindset at UMD encounters.
Introducing the Maryland Impact Consulting Fellowship, bringing together student teams from universities across Maryland to solve real strategic challenges for mission-driven organizations.
Continuing to expand our newsletter and LinkedIn community to connect a wider circle of students, alumni, and partners to CSVC’s work.
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WHO WE REACHED Expanding our impact across campus.
TOP FIELDS OF STUDY
STUDENTS FROM ACROSS CAMPUS
30% 26.0%
25.6%
25%
20%
Outside Smith 16.6%
18.3%
15% 10.4%
10%
6.4% 5%
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M ar ke tin g
M an ag em en Bu t si ne ss An al yt ic s
Sy st em s
In fo rm at io n
Fi na nc e
0% Smith Majors 83.4%
31 64
COLLEGES & SCHOOLS
MAJORS REPRESENTED
Students represented across University of Maryland
From business and STEM to humanities, health, and the arts
INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS FORMED
Bringing together students from multiple majors and schools to solve real-world challenges
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ALUMNI IMPACT Our alumni are making an impact across industries and the world.
CSVC brings national-caliber sustainability thinking to a local stage. I’ve walked away from every conference with insights I use in my client work, and relationships with DC-area sustainability leaders I still tap into today.
Anne Zappas, ‘21 Sustainability & Climate Risk Manager at Protiviti
CSVC was one of the main reasons why I am in a sustainability based role now and continues to be one of the ways I can give back to the Smith community. It is a pleasure to see so many students interested in the cross section of sustainability and the business world.
Ayman Bootwala, ‘24 Sustainable Finance Equity Research Associate at Bloomberg
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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 cofounder of Neuro Health Collective, a neurotechnology company advancing the future of brain health through data, AI, and patient empowerment. Her global career spans leadership roles across innovative technology companies from start-ups to GE, as well as international development organizations from NGOs to the World Bank. Kristin is a board member at the International Advertising Association (IAA) and began her career as a volunteer in the Peace Corps.
STEVE FREISHTAT, ‘81 Steve Freishtat '81 is the former CEO and founder of the Next Day Blinds Corporation. He serves on multiple advisory boards and previously taught as an adjunct lecturer at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. Today he advises small businesses on strategy, with a commitment to advancing business through responsible workplace leadership.
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ADVISORY BOARD JENNIFER JENKINS, EMBA ‘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 principal 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.
DAVID KIRSCH David A. Kirsch is an Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. His research focuses on entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and industry emergence, with notable work on the history of electric vehicles and the automobile industry. He also leads initiatives to preserve digital records from the Dot Com Era through projects supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Library of Congress.
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OUR TEAM NIMA FARSHCHI, ‘14, MBA ‘20 Nima Farshchi is a faculty member in the Management and Organization Department at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, where he serves as Executive Director of the Office of Experiential Learning and Director of the Center for Social Value Creation. His teaching focuses on sustainability, corporate purpose, and social impact, with an emphasis on helping organizations create value for society. He teaches Strategic Management, Leadership, and the Social Innovation Capstone courses and his work has been recognized with the Allen J. Krowe Award for Teaching Excellence. Farshchi earned both his MBA and dual undergraduate degrees in Operations Management and Accounting from the Robert H. Smith School of Business.
STEPHANIE CANTOR, ‘12 Stephanie Cantor is the Head of Strategy and Growth for the Center for Social Value Creation. She leads the Center's strategic planning, oversees board engagement, and cultivates donor partnerships to advance its mission and expand its impact. Prior to joining the Center, she was a consultant at PwC before founding ads4change, a social enterprise dedicated to helping mission-driven organizations maximize their impact. Stephanie earned a Master of Science from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the Robert H. Smith School of Business, where she helped launch the Center for Social Value Creation as a student.
KATE BALCERZAK, MBA ‘19 Kate Balcerzak is a Senior Fellow with CSVC, contributing her expertise in external affairs and policy to support student learning through thought leadership and strategic engagement. Most recently, Kate served in the White House Office of Public Engagement as Special Assistant to the President, where she spearheaded dialogue with Fortune 500 leaders and policymakers on economic issues. Previously, she represented PepsiCo with U.S. lawmakers and served at the U.S. Department of State, advancing foreign policy goals across 160+ countries for President Obama. Kate holds an MBA from the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business and a B.A. from Fordham University.
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OUR TEAM
MEILIN YUAN
ROHAN HILL*
JAMIE BERNSTEIN*
EILEEN CHEN
Marketing Strategy Lead Marketing & Public Relations, ‘26
Digital Media & Marketing Lead Marketing, ‘27
Project Management Lead Finance & Information Systems, ‘26
CHARLOTTE FINK*
JIAYI WANG
VASILEY SYOMIN
CHRISTOPHER YEH
Digital Media & Marketing Lead Finance & Marketing, ‘29
Impact Consulting Fellowship Lead Finance & Information Systems, ‘26
Case Competitions Lead Finance & International Business, ‘27
Curricular Research Lead Information Systems & Supply Chain Management, ‘26
KEOLA EVANS
KHUSHI UPADHYAY
Case Competition Strategist Lead Information Systems & Marketing, ‘26
HELAINA DAVIS
ERNA ROTH
Core Curricular Lead Finance & International Business, ‘27
Impact Consulting Fellowship Lead Finance & Information Systems, ‘27
Revenue Operations Manager MBA, ‘27
Chief of Staff Finance & Information Systems, ‘26
* Denotes responsibility for compiling Annual Report
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DONORS & SUPPORTERS The opportunities highlighted throughout this report are made possible through the support of donors, partners, and advocates who believe in student-driven impact.
ANNUAL REPORT LEVEL DONORS Marni Aronson Alexia Ayuk Renee Baharaeen Allison Baker Kathryn Balcerzak Gurleenkaur Bhatia Ayman Bootwala Thomas Brown Melissa Carrier Eileen Chen John & Margaret Chickering Matthew Chin Ange Cho Nicole Coomber Benjamin Cutler Meghan Desai Rebecca DeStefano Claudia Donnelly Corinne Dougherty Kristina Erwin Kristin Fallon Hassan Farshchi
Nima Farshchi Matthew Flick Keith Forbus Steven & Sheryl Freishtat Victoria Fyock Tushar Garg Mary Gillis Montserrat Gomez Arias Dillon Hagius John Hagius Shirley Han Elaine Hui Joanna Ihm Jennifer Jenkins Troy Jones Catherine Kan Katherine Kane Matthew Kannan Omer Kaufman Shelby Kemp Firouzeh Khaje Nouri David & Andrea Kirsch
ACADEMIC PARTNERS
Steven Krivos & Matt Leib Roxanne Lefkoff Evan & Lauren Lutz Jessica Ma Luca Mancino Kathryn Manning Fabiola Manzanarez Francisco Manzanarez Collin Marcian Gianna Mariani Isaac Moore Jessica Moore Sareet Nayak Glenn & Lauri Noble Paulo Prochno Aarushi Puri Nakisa Rafiee Ayoub & Roya Rashtchian Phillip Reamer Felix Ringland Margaret Rogers Michael Rogers
Adrienne Roth Margaret Roth Joseph Rotter Megan Sanquist Anabel Schmelz Margo Sengupta Ajay Shankar Kapil Sharma Nazanin Spurrier Kevin Takiar Cullen Taylor Omobolaji Vincent Kenney Whitman Anne Zappas Corporate & Foundation Donors The Blackbaud Giving Fund Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund KPMG Foundation KPMG LLP PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC)
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GET INVOLVED Here’s how you stay connected to everything CSVC has to offer.
INSTAGRAM @CREATINGVALUE WEBSITE GO.UMD.EDU/CSVC LINKEDIN GO.UMD.EDU/CSVCLINKEDIN ROBERT H. SMITH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS CENTER FOR SOCIAL VALUE CREATION VAN MUNCHING HALL COLLEGE PARK, MD 20742
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