<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><item href="/about/newsroom/business-today-take-five-kathea-smith.cfm" dsn="blogs"><featured/><pubDate>08/13/2025</pubDate><title>Take Five: Thoughts of an Assistant Dean</title><description>Assistant Dean Kathea Smith shares five thoughts for the beginning of the semester. </description><author>Business Today</author><image><img src="https://www.ubalt.edu/about/newsroom/assets/images/2000x1500xkathea-smith-3-horiz.jpg" alt="Kathea Smith"/></image><image-cap>Kathea Smith, Assistant Dean, Merrick School of Business</image-cap><quote>I’m here to walk alongside our students. So, that means my open door is truly open, virtually or in-person. </quote><quote-name>Kathea Smith</quote-name><quote-info>Assistant Dean, Merrick School of Business</quote-info><tags><tag>Faculty: Kathea Smith</tag><tag>Merrick School of Business</tag></tags></item>