Delaplaine School to Become School of Business and Communication in 2026

By Piper Wright//

Hood College will merge the Delaplaine School of Business and the Communication Arts program beginning in the fall of 2026. 

The move will rename the Delaplaine School of Business to the Delaplaine School of Business and Communication.  

This merger brings many benefits for students studying business or communication arts, Hood officials said.

Mahesh Joshi, dean of the Delaplaine School of Business, said the biggest benefit for students will be future internship opportunities.  

The business school recently signed two new memorandums of understanding with both the Frederick Flying Cows, a semi-pro basketball team, and the Washington Freedom, a professional cricket team.  

Both teams are looking for 10 interns each year. Four interns will be selected in the spring semester, two in the summer, and another four in the fall, Joshi said.

“Both Washington Freedom and Flying Cows are interested in people who understand business but also understand communication,” Joshi said. “So they will find a ready-made pool of students to pick from.”

Joshi said he also is looking to expand both curricula with new areas of study and the creation of new minors.

One of these, the Sports Marketing and Entertainment minor, launched last fall.

The merger builds on existing cooperation between business and communication arts, he noted.

“Integrated Marketing and Communications was the first integration of the courses between communication and business,” Joshi said. “So, the idea is now that we will be under the same umbrella, we can do a lot more brainstorming and maybe come up with some new programs.”  

Vice President of Academic Affairs Paige Eager said the merger builds on existing synergy. “The merger will foster enhanced collaboration amongst the faculty in the development of new minors and courses that benefit the students in the Delaplaine School of Business and Communication,” she said, adding that the move “will identify opportunities for internships and career paths that highlight the business and communication needs of the corporate, non-profit, and governmental sectors.”

The merger will not affect the core curriculum or degree requirements for either the business or communication majors. 

Joshi will remain as the dean of the renamed school, and no faculty roles will change. 

Alan Goldenbach will serve as department chair for communication arts starting in the fall semester of 2026.

David Gurzick is at the end of his term as the department chair for the Department of Economics and Business and is moving into a new role as Master of Business Administration director. Janak Joshi will become the new chair for the Department of Economics and Business.  

The merger will not affect the School of Business’s ACBSP accreditation status of majors, including accounting, business administration and finance.  

The Integrated Marketing and Communication and Communication Arts programs will remain unaccredited.  

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