Pros
It's great location in Fells Point and walk-ability for those who live in the neighborhood is literally what kept me there for so long. Also the JHU benefits. I would say the flexible working environment was also a pro that I enjoyed but they have since done away with any of that.
Cons
The recent downsizing and staff layoffs shook my faith in the organization. It was poorly concocted and poorly executed, resulting in confusion, hurt feelings, rumors and constant anxiety. Granted, downsizing due to lack of funding is never easy. But the ad hoc way in which it was handled this spring (and is still ongoing) was perhaps the worst possible for morale and retention. Not to mention the amount of institutional knowledge that just flew out the door has the potential to cripple some operational functions moving forward. It's clear that some of the Senior Leadership is fairly clueless about the day to day operations and systems management that are under their purview. Also there is a serious air of favoritism. Some teams and people are clearly treasured (usually because of their achievements but sometimes not). Which leaves little room for others to catch a break or move up in their career. It was painful for me to watch some of my colleagues and friends wear themselves out for years, trying to impress their supervisor or team lead only to be passed up for opportunities over and over. Eventually they will all just leave, as I did.