Smith Business magazine-summer24-paperturn - Flipbook - Page 11
Photo by Tony Richards
Gifting early for MAXIMUM impact
long consulting projects. “The experiential learning
Albert “Ab” Krall ’81 never felt the need to put his
aspect of this class demonstrated a strongly held belief
alma mater in the rearview mirror. Early in his career,
of mine—that learning is greatly enhanced by doing.
he returned to recruit Smith’s talented students for
Our class is all about that experience.”
Arthur Andersen. He’s been an executive in residence at
He and his co-lecturer, Assistant Dean of Experiential
the Smith School since 2016, sharing insights from his
Learning Nicole Coomber, rely on a strong team
successful consulting career in the classroom. He has
dynamic. His gift will help students work in teams and
also been a donor since 1983, when he gave his 昀椀rst $35.
collaborate more effectively.
“I started early and I started small,” says the former
The 84-seat Terp Active Learning Classroom is
consulting executive, who retired after 27 years from the
designed to foster student engagement and critical
昀椀rm that became Accenture. Then he moved on to six
years at Deloitte Consulting. “I was just starting to make thinking. 1407 VMH is packed with 昀氀exible technology
that fosters multiple ways of teaching, active peer
my way in the professional world.”
interactions and close instructor-student engagement.
In April—41 years since his initial gift—Krall and
“The environment should be a step forward in teaching,
his wife, Kristen, invested $750,000 in Smith.
allowing more creative instruction and collaboration,”
“I give because I really believe in Smith’s mission,”
says Krall—“and it can be updated through the years.”
he says.
As an instructor, Krall says one of the things he
The gift will be used for the construction of an active
loves most about Smith is that the students who come
learning classroom in Van Munching Hall. It’s inspired
through the school all bring unique perspectives and
by what Krall says his students need and his tireless
backgrounds from their different walks of life.
commitment to helping Smith offer the very best
“I believe the students we attract are the kind who are
business education.
going to make a difference, and I’ve continued to feel
Krall teaches the full-time MBA Business Consulting
good about where Smith is going. I just want to support
Practicum. It’s a course that pairs MBA and other
that excellence in any way I can.”
master’s students with leading companies for months-
rhsmith-editor@umd.edu
summer 2024
/
SMITH BUSINESS
/
9