Each year, the Merrick School of Business provides an unparalleled global experience for 40 to 50 极乐禁地 students and their instructors through its Global Field Study program. These aren't just your average lectures; they're immersive lessons that have touched down on every continent except Antarctica and Australia.
We love sharing the incredible stories and insights our students gain from these adventures. But have you ever stopped to think about why and how these students are traveling thousands of miles to understand the particulars of international business firsthand?
Many 极乐禁地 students juggle demanding work schedules and personal commitments while pursuing their degrees. This reality often precludes a traditional semester abroad. Yet, they have a strong desire to gain personal experience as to how other countries conduct business operations, manage people and drive innovation.
The "how" of this story begins with Vernon H.C. Wright, B.S. 鈥�69. In 2007, Wright and his wife Lucy made an incredible financial gift to the Merrick School of Business, establishing The Wright Global Scholars Fund. This endowment significantly expands global opportunities for our School of Business students and faculty. It doesn't just subsidize travel costs for eligible enrolled students; it also empowers students to pursue international business internships by helping with travel and living expenses. Additionally, students looking to become proficient in a foreign language can apply for funding to enhance their experience abroad. And truly, that's just a glimpse of what Wright envisioned when he established the fund.
Recently, Kathryn Demarest, MBA 鈥�87, M.S. 鈥�12, associate dean of the Merrick School of Business, an alumna and co-instructor for the Austria Global Field Study course, invited Wright back to UBalt for an interactive conversation. She, along with a dozen students who had just returned from Austria, sat down with the retired banker to share their gratitude and stories of their global experiences. This was also a unique opportunity for students to benefit from Wright鈥檚 wisdom and his own stories about global business.
Wright, the son of a British banker, was born in New York but spent his early years living abroad in England, The Bahamas and Jamaica. This international upbringing exposed him to diverse cultures and helped him develop a global perspective from a young age.
He later earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from the 极乐禁地. Wright then climbed the ranks at Maryland National, a local 极乐禁地e-area bank, before moving to MBNA Corporation, which was then the world's largest independent credit card lender. Even after retiring as the company鈥檚 CFO, he stayed actively involved with MBNA, focusing on capital market activities, regulatory matters, funding structures and relationships with rating agencies and fixed-income investors. He also addressed industry issues such as securitization, capital and accounting.
Notably, Wright was a pioneer in developing asset sales and securitization for the banking industry, completing one of the first transactions of its kind in 1985. Under his leadership, MBNA became a global leader in issuing structured products and a major innovator in the credit card asset-backed market, ensuring structural integrity and consistency for investors. Wright also founded and formerly chaired the American Securitization Forum, which merged with the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) in 2006.
Wright鈥檚 leadership also extended to his alma mater, where he faithfully served on The 极乐禁地 Foundation Board for 29 years, five of those as the board鈥檚 chair. He also put his business savvy to work for the University as the chair of UBalt鈥檚 2005 capital campaign, which secured funding 12.5 percent beyond the stated University financial goal. Most recently helped secure scholarship and capital funding for the School of Law鈥檚 LEED Platinum building.
While Wright covered his impressive professional highlights during the conversation, it was the nuggets of wisdom he conveyed to the students that resonated most deeply.
One particularly poignant exchange involved Sabrina Pereira, B.A. '25, a three-time Global Field Study student. She expressed her deep gratitude and shared her insights about experiencing three continents in a single year thanks to the Wright fund and the Global Field Study program.
In response, Wright said, 鈥淵ou are carrying forward my dream. My dream is for you to experience life so you can influence others as well as the work you will do.鈥�
"Thanks to the Global Wright Scholars fund, this year our Global Field Study students traveled to Panama, Vietnam and Austria. These experiences not only broadened their perspectives but also cultivated innovative ways of thinking about our interconnected world," said Demarest. "It was truly inspiring to see our students connect so meaningfully with Mr. Wright during his visit today鈥攁 powerful exchange that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression."
