Real estate developer Jeffrey S. Olson to give keynote address at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School graduation ceremonies

Real estate developer and Johns Hopkins Carey Business School alumnus Jeffrey S. Olson will be the featured speaker at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School’s MS and MBA graduation ceremonies on Tuesday, May 20.

Olson is the chairman and chief executive officer of Urban Edge Properties, a real estate firm that oversees an extensive portfolio of shopping centers from Washington D.C. to Boston. The company’s stated mission is to own and improve real estate properties that create risk-adjusted returns while improving communities.

Olson has led Urban Edge Properties since the company spun off from Vornado Realty Trust in 2015. Previously, he served as CEO of the real estate investment trust Equity One, Inc., and was president of the Eastern and Western Regions at Kimco Realty Corporation. He also serves as a board member of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts.

Olson earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science in Real Estate from Johns Hopkins. He remains active in the Carey Business School community serving as vice-chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council and chair of the school’s Real Estate Advisory Board.

“Jeff Olson is an accomplished real estate executive, and he is deeply committed to our alumni and student communities,” said Dean Alex Triantis. “I value his leadership as vice-chair of our Advisory Board and chair of our Real Estate Advisory Board, and I am delighted to welcome Jeff as our commencement speaker.”

The Class of 2025 will also be represented by student speakers nominated by members of the Carey community. MS in Health Care Management candidate Renad Salem Bahabri will speak on behalf of master’s students and MBA candidate Elham (Hasti) Jamshidi will address graduates during the MBA ceremony.

The graduation ceremonies will be at the Joseph A. Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore.