---
title: $3.8M Gift Honors Longtime Business School Dean Rudy Lamone
date: 2025-01-28T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/3-8m-gift-honors-longtime-business-school-dean-rudy-lamone"
section: Articles
---
# $3.8M Gift Honors Longtime Business School Dean Rudy Lamone

*January 28, 2025* — by [Rebecca Winner](/author/rebecca-winner)


> Renamed Dingman-Lamone Center for Entrepreneurship to Grow Its Programs

*Van Munching Hall Snow 01072025 JC 9281 1920x1080 — The Dingman-Lamone Center for Entrepreneurship at the Robert H. Smith School of Business is best known for Pitch Dingman, a “Shark Tank”-style competition for students.*

A $3.8 million gift from the widow of a longtime, influential dean of the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business school will support and expand the work of its nationally known entrepreneurship center, which will be renamed for him.

In recognition of Linda Lamone’s generosity, the Dingman-Lamone Center for Entrepreneurship will honor the contributions and legacy of Rudolph P. “Rudy” Lamone, who led the school from 1973-92. Lamone established the center, one of the first of its kind at a business school, with a gift from founding donor Michael Dingman in 1986.


*Rudy Lamone archival headshot — Former Smith School Dean Rudolph P. “Rudy” Lamone established its entrepreneurship center with a founding gift from Michael Dingman (shown with Lamone at bottom, right) and stayed active in its programs for decades.*


*Lamone and Dingman*




**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)


**Tags:** [Philanthropy](https://today.umd.edu/topic/philanthropy)


**Units:** [Robert H. Smith School of Business](https://today.umd.edu/topic/robert-h-smith-school-business)