Part-time students recently traveled to Johns Hopkins Carey Business School’s Harbor East location in Baltimore, MD to participate in the inaugural Carey Connections Day.

Carey Connections Day was designed to turn virtual learning into real-world connections and to provide online students with the opportunity to experience the Carey community in person.

For online students, events like Carey Connections Day are crucial. While flexible learning is a significant advantage for individuals looking to continue their personal and professional commitments without interruptions, in-person opportunities like these allow students to create bonds with their peers, build professional networks, meet their professors, and experience a collaborative culture–one that defines Carey and the larger Johns Hopkins community.

Associate Professor of Practice Michelle Barton reflected on the day, saying it was more than just networking.

“Getting your graduate degree, especially online, is a challenging journey and as with all adventures, it helps to have the support, insight, and camaraderie of friends. In-person events like these give students a chance to start building those personal relationships that can be so important to their graduate school experience and beyond,” said Barton.

The all-day event was structured to provide students with a mix of experiences to help them connect with each other and to Carey in meaningful ways.

Carey partner, Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School, led a series of team-building activities focused on three core themes: connection, team skills, and self-awareness for learning. These exercises challenged students to collaborate, problem-solve, and support each other through increasingly challenging scenarios. The day also gave students the opportunity to reflect on how they can continue to build and leverage these skills throughout their academic journeys.

Beyond the activities, students met with their academic advisors, Career & Life Design coaches, and members of the student affairs and experiential learning teams to hear more about Carey’s curricular and co-curricular resources and opportunities. The students learned about global immersion, leadership coaching, case competitions, professional networking events, and student organizations they can participate in while completing their degree online.

“I attended Carey Connections Day because I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to meet classmates, build my network, and establish real-life relationships outside of the flexible virtual environment. I thoroughly enjoyed the day! We learned so much about each other and it gave us a sense of team,” said current Flexible MBA student Randolph Chestang.

Students also took a field trip to Johns Hopkins University’s Homewood campus to take photos in front of the Johns Hopkins sign and visit the bookstore.

Dean of Carey Business School Alex Triantis hosted a Leadership and Life Design panel with three experienced leaders. The panelists shared insights on the challenges of modern leadership, navigating their careers, and achieving work-life balance.

“The event was well-organized, inspiring, and informative. I had the chance to attend a variety of sessions, including faculty presentations, alumni panel discussions, and team-building events,” said current Flexible MBA student Stephanie Mentis.

The day concluded with a reception where students had time to relax, reflect, and make plans for future in-person connections.

We look forward to hosting more opportunities to bring the Carey community together in the future!