COLLEGE PARK, MD - In collaboration with the Robert H. Smith School of Business, Maryland Athletics is proud to announce a groundbreaking pilot program to help Terrapin student-athletes develop their brands and thrive in the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) era.

The program launching this semester leverages the expertise of 13 Strategic Design Fellows (SDF) from the Smith School of Business. These highly skilled marketing students, known for their innovative strategic brand-building and digital marketing approach, will collaborate with eight student-athletes from various sports. Together, they will create impactful social media strategies and develop personalized content to grow the athletes' online presence.

"The NIL x Strategic Design Fellows partnership provides hands-on experience with brand development," said Mary Beth Furst, the Clinical Professor of Marketing at the Smith School. "This exciting opportunity leverages the creative and analytical strengths of our Smith Strategic Design Fellows to help athletes build their brands and capitalize on their talents. The partnership is an obvious win for marketing students who wish to pursue careers in sports marketing. It also provides fantastic real-world experience that is useful in digital media, content creation and brand management careers." 

As part of the program, student-athletes will access world-class resources, including personalized coaching, tailored workshops and hands-on collaboration with SDF students. The initiative also taps into the expertise of Smith School faculty, focusing on essential skills such as social media management, financial literacy, branding and contract negotiation.

"This partnership exemplifies the University of Maryland's commitment to providing unmatched support to our student-athletes," said Omari DeBerry, Maryland Athletics' Director of NIL Services. "Through this program, we are equipping them with the tools and resources they need to excel both on and off the field."

The pilot program aims to gather valuable feedback this semester to refine and expand the initiative in the future. Maryland Athletics continues to set the standard for comprehensive student-athlete development by empowering student-athletes to capitalize on their NIL opportunities.