Welcome MBA Class of 2010!

The Robert H. Smith School of Business welcomed the nearly 130 students in the new full-time MBA class, with the Monday, Aug. 18 kick-off to a weeklong orientation to Smith and the programs they’ll be immersed in for the next two years. Students had a chance to get to know faculty, staff and each other.

The class of 2010 formed bonds quickly as they worked in groups, shared meals and even climbed a ropes course together. This class is 29 percent female, 35 percent international, hailing from 21 countries. Nineteen students are already Terps, with undergraduate degrees from the University of Maryland.

Dean G. “Anand” Anandalingam welcomed students on Day One. Current Smith students Corrinne Hobbs, MBA ’09, vice president of student affairs; Alexander Kouts, MBA ’09, MBA Association president; and Denise Mooney, MBA ’10, Part-Time MBA Association president; pumped up the new students for the exciting two years ahead.

The orientation included an introduction to Smith programs, academics and student culture, as well as presentations from Smith alums Dontá L. Wilson MBA ’05, Battlefield Regional President of BB&T; Marlene McNamee MBA ’02, vice president of Deutsche Bank Securities; and Kristie Bradford MBA ’02, of General Electric.

The week wasn’t all speeches, though. Joyce Russell, Distinguished Tyser Teaching Fellow of Management and Organization, led a session on team dynamics that had the class work in small groups using masking tape, paper plates and cups, straws and a cardboard base to build the tallest tower that could support a can of vegetables for 10 seconds. The winning team’s tower stretched so tall, a team member had stand on a desk to place the can on top, eliciting cheers from the crowd in Howard Frank Auditorium. Russell was impressed with all of the groups’ efforts. After the exercise, the students debriefed on the teamwork and negotiation skills they’d practiced while working together on the task — skills they’ll employ for countless group projects to come in their MBA curriculum.

The MBAs got a taste of Smith’s curriculum and the focus on globalization, entrepreneurship and technology, with sessions that simulated classroom experiences and had them again working in small groups. The class got an in-depth introduction to Smith’s career services. They also had a chance to ask current MBA students and alumni questions about the program, life at Smith, and life after Smith.

Each student also received a Blackberry handheld device, which they’ll use for the next two years to become immersed in the always-connected global business world. They attended happy hours, a cookout, a Baltimore Orioles baseball game, an international lunch and clubs bazaar, and participated in team-building exercises on the ropes course at the University of Maryland’s Outdoor Recreation Center.

The week was packed with events and activities, the beginning to what promises to be an exciting two years for the MBA Class of 2010.