By Staff //
Though it may not seem that communications, which originates from the English department, and the Delaplaine School of Business, originating from the economics department, have anything in common other than shared spaces, by Sept. 18 the two will become more than just classes in the same building by way of a merger.
Mahesh Joshi, the current dean of Hood College’s Delaplaine School of Business, will also assume the role of dean of communications.
Joshi is confident that the merger is a long-anticipated unification of the two departments. He explained that although the two departments stem from different origins, they are both heavily supported by the George B. Delaplaine Foundation.
Hood College’s business and communication programs are experiencing strong student demand during the first week of the academic year, according to Joshi.
Joshi said the high demand has resulted in students filling courses quickly and creating the need for additional sections. Faculty members have been cooperative in accommodating the increased demand when possible. Joshi called this increase in demand “a good problem to have.”
The Delaplaine School also expanded its academic offerings in July of last year with three new minors: sports entertainment and marketing, entrepreneurship and marketing. Unlike many programs that are limited to students in related majors, the new minors are open to students across the college.
The sports entertainment and marketing minor has generated particularly strong interest, especially among Hood’s student-athletes.
“Students have shown lots of interest in the sports entertainment and marketing minor; it’s been most popular among the student-athletes,” Joshi said. “But the novelty about these three minors is that any student can take them, from any major.”
Joshi is focused on community outreach and unifying both departments. He is confident in his role and new responsibilities, which he describes as one focused on outreach, management and encouragement.
“As dean, my job is much broader than one classroom-based; the other part of my job is to work with the community,” Joshi said.
Joshi hopes to help prepare students for the workforce and is hopeful that through this merger more opportunities will be available for all Hood College students.
In addition to these new minors, students should be aware of a scheduled event marking the merger of the business and communication arts departments. The event is scheduled for Sept. 18, with faculty from both communication arts and the economics and business administration departments helping to run and organize the event.
The event will celebrate the merging of two competitive fields. It will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. and will include notable members of Hood College, including President Debbie Ricker, donors from the Delaplaine Foundation and alumni.
The event will be open to all students, faculty and community members, as Joshi wants to include and showcase the community.
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