Raj Bector (ECE ’98) Invests in Maryland Promise Scholarship Program

Raj Bector (ECE ’98) has four pieces of advice that can apply to students and alumni both: 1) Believe in yourself, 2) When an opportunity arises, do everything in your power to take advantage of it, 3) Enjoy the process and experience life, and 4) As you progress in your career, pay it forward when the time is right.

Raj is among the first Clark School alumni to donate to the Maryland Promise Scholarship Program. A Senior Partner with McKinsey & Company, Inc., he was inspired to become involved in honor of his appreciation for the education he received at the University of Maryland.

The Maryland Promise Scholarship was established in 2019 by the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation and provides education and financial opportunities to promising undergraduate students from Maryland and Washington, D.C. Aimed at developing the next generation of leaders, Maryland Promise Scholars embark on a journey that embodies academic excellence, professional development, leadership development and community engagement.

When introduced to the Maryland Promise Program, Raj recalls, “it was a natural place to get involved. It seemed quite interesting and an opportunity to pay if forward to someone who might need it. I wasn’t going to pass up that opportunity.”

After receiving a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1998, followed by a Masters in Computer Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, Raj held positions with Northrop Grumman, Booz Allen Hamilton and Oliver Wyman, before landing his current position at McKinsey & Company, Inc., where he leads the NA Wealth, Asset Management & Insurance Technology Program.

Growing up with a natural curiosity about how things worked and solving problems, he excelled at combining engineering and technology to both hardware and software development. While at Northrop Grumman, an opportunity to participate in a leadership program allowed him to view all aspects of the business, including legal, marketing, finance, and more. Realizing he enjoyed talking to clients and interacting with others, he decided to pursue positions that combined technical knowledge with an increased level of business development.

As a proud Terp, Raj is energized by many innovative programs coming out of the University of Maryland at this time. Research in AI, quantum computing, energy and finance all find a common thread through engineering and consumer value. Another area of interest is the University’s commitment to DEI programs, allowing for ideas from all over the world and all types of people to come together and give students greater opportunities to learn and grow from a global perspective.

The Maryland Promise Scholarship appealed to him because of its method of finding students who would benefit from the program. After immigrating to the United States as a young child, he saw how hard his parents worked to support him and ensure he earned a college education. He says he owes his education and success to his parents, who pushed him to achieve beyond what they imagined.

Knowing what can help a person achieve success, Raj understands that easing barriers and allowing for more opportunities can have a real impact on students. By giving to the Maryland Promise Scholarship, he hopes to help a deserving student reach their full potential through their commitment to the program’s keystones and their focus on engineering. By developing the full individual, the Maryland Promise Scholarship “can touch broader society and individuals, the best of both worlds”.

“Education can change lives, and UMD is truly life-changing. If I can pay if forward and allow someone else that change, then I will”. He encourages fellow alumnus to support the University of Maryland or the Maryland Promise Scholarship by asking “what legacy do you want to leave, and how do you want to impact society and individuals?”.

Published March 6, 2024