#United States #College Park #UMD Smith #Career Boutique #Wellness Room

University of Maryland's Innovative Career Boutique and Wellness Room

The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business has recently initiated an exciting program aimed at fostering student success. In collaboration with the Enterprise Mobility Foundation, the school has unveiled its new Career Boutique and Wellness Room, designed to provide free professional attire and promote overall mental wellness among students. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to prepare students for upcoming job opportunities, interviews, and career fairs.

Purpose of the Initiative

Located in Van Munching Hall, the boutique operates on a donation-based model, allowing students from the Smith School and the Business, Society, and Entrepreneurship (BSE) Scholars Program to access a range of professional clothing—including suits, ties, dresses, and shoes—at no cost. The program not only addresses the immediate needs for interview attire but also emphasizes the importance of confidence and preparedness in the job market.

According to Clinical Professor Oliver Schlake, who directs the BSE Program, this initiative transcends mere clothing provision: "This initiative is about more than clothing; it's about confidence and career readiness," he explained. By equipping students with the right attire, the program aims to instill the confidence necessary for successful job interviews and entry into the professional world.

Services Offered

The Career Boutique will also play host to various workshops aimed at enhancing students' professional skills. Workshops will include topics like "How to Dress for an Interview" and the introduction of a personal shopper option to help students select the most suitable outfits. In addition to clothing, students will have access to style consultations that will empower them to present their best selves when stepping into a potential employer's office.

Supporting the effort, Obioma Akaigwe, Assistant Director of the BSE Scholars Program, remarked on the sustainable model of the boutique that relies on donations from generous alumni, local businesses, and community members. “We aim to ensure every student can walk into an interview feeling confident, irrespective of their financial situation,” she said.

The Role of Student Volunteers

To maintain the boutique’s operations, trained student staff from the BSE program will manage it, gaining valuable experience while directly assisting their peers. This aligns perfectly with Schlake's vision of the boutique being a live-learning platform where students can experiment with ideas in a start-up-like environment. The initiative was initially funded by grants, but there is a clear plan for future sustainability.

Each spring, as part of their capstone project, students will collaborate to assess and improve the boutique based on the evolving needs of their peers. Previous iterations of this project have successfully transitioned from concept to reality, and the team is enthusiastic about carrying on this trajectory.

Collaboration with Other Programs

Once the boutique is firmly established, it is slated to serve as a collaborative platform for other programs within the university. The integration of the boutique into various curricula will provide students with essential real-world skills. Moreover, partnerships with entrepreneurial programs at Smith and the broader university are sought so that students can gain exposure to practical entrepreneurship while learning about career readiness.

As the fall semester approaches, the first student rentals will soon be available, and the program anticipates requests for clothing donations from faculty, staff, and alumni. Additional funding is welcomed, as the boutique encourages donors to contribute anything from suits to small cash donations tucked inside pockets to support continuing operations.

Kimberly Rice DeGross, the head of the Office of Career Services, played a crucial role in bringing the boutique to fruition. Her efforts in securing partnerships, particularly with the Enterprise Mobility Foundation, were vital in achieving this initiative's successful launch. "It offers our students a vital service in a challenging market while providing an enriching co-curricular experience to prepare them for their next career steps," she noted.

The Wellness Room

In conjunction with the Career Boutique, the wellness room aims at providing students with a space to reflect before and after interviews. This room will also serve as a calming area for faculty, staff, and students at the Smith School throughout the year, offering a tranquil escape from the hustle of academia.

A grand opening ceremony for the boutique and wellness room is set for September 9, 2025, at 11 a.m. in Van Munching Hall, Room 2530. Interested individuals can learn more by contacting Smith OCS via email.

As the Robert H. Smith School of Business continues to be an internationally recognized leader in management education, initiatives such as this prove its commitment to nurturing the next generation of professionals.