By Sofia Montoya-Deck
Hood College recently announced the appointment of Mahesh P. Joshi as the inaugural dean of the George B. Delaplaine Jr. School of Business. His first day was Jan. 22.
“Dr. Joshi was among our top candidates,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Debbie Ricker said. “He immediately impressed the search committee with his experience and vision for the school.”
The dean’s position is part of an endowment from George B. Delaplaine Jr, after whom the school of business is named. According to Ricker, the dean will work closely with department leaders to oversee internal operations and external efforts such as building partnerships and fundraising.
Before taking on his new role, Joshi worked at George Mason University for 22 years as an associate professor of global strategy and entrepreneurship. He was also the founding director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the university’s school of business and has been awarded the School of Business Service Award seven times.
Joshi earned his undergraduate degree at St. Xavier’s College, where he majored in math and minored in statistics and economics. He then obtained his doctorate in strategic management and international business at Temple University.
“Applying my knowledge of math and business was more fruitful,” Joshi said of earning his Ph.D. “I like the idea of risk-taking and opportunity exploration.”
As dean, Joshi plans to take on a three-part responsibility: education and well-being of students; working with colleagues and faculty; and community outreach.
“I would like to learn more about the students—be an observer, sit through some classes,” Joshi said. “I can’t help student well-being unless I see how they are being taught.”
Joshi said he is excited to take on his new role as the inaugural dean. “I’m currently on learning and listening mode,” he said. “Hood itself is changing. I like that. Risk-taking and exploration are right up my alley.”
As a big believer in teaching through gamification, Joshi created an interactive strategy training system called BiggieBills, which is used to build corporate culture and sharpen strategic thinking and decision-making skills. The online game is played by teams that take on the role of an established business and work their way up the industry by becoming the first to earn a billion dollars.
Joshi is also president of Joshi International, Inc., a consulting firm that provides strategic and entrepreneurial advice. “I have been an entrepreneur for the longest time in my life,” Joshi said.
“Dr. Joshi has hit the ground running,” Ricker said of the dean’s first few weeks. “I can’t wait to see how the school will evolve through his creativity, vision, energy and passion for the Hood community.”
Joshi is eager to start at Hood. “I like the warmth and the camaraderie,” he said. “[There are] a lot of positive things about Hood, and people and students are the main ones.”
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