By Jen Forse | Staff Writer
Business students have a new opportunity to take their ideas, questions and concerns directly to the top as Hankamer School of Business Dean David Szymanski opens his office to students.
Szymanski opened his office to students Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students may speak to the dean by appointment. Szymanski said the office hours are intended to create an environment where he can build genuine connections with students while learning more about their experiences in the Hankamer School of Business.
“It’s the opportunity to connect with the students as we discuss things,” Szymanski said. “Me asking questions to learn more about them and them asking questions that might be on their mind.”
For Szymanski, the office hours help him learn more about students’ decision-making process and give insight into how the business school can improve.
Middletown, Delaware, sophomore Aarav Chitti used the dean’s office hours to advocate for more collaboration across departments within the business school.
“In my experience, business is the creation and management of value profited from goods of different disciplines,” Chitti said. “Other disciplines are integral to that definition, and I think right now the business school is siloed off when business as a discipline is a connection node between other disciplines.”
During the meeting, Szymanski discussed changes he has planned for the business school, while Chitti shared his perspective as president of a startup innovation club on campus and an officer in several student organizations.
“I shared a little bit of what I saw as a leader from an organizational and student perspective,” Chitti said. “I think the dean and I saw eye to eye on a lot of problems.”
While Chitti approached Szymanski with suggestions for improvement, he said he has already seen changes within the business school since Szymanski became dean last year, including increased integration of artificial intelligence.
Beyond hearing students’ ideas, Szymanski said his role gives him an opportunity to help create pathways for students that they may not otherwise be able to pursue.
“That’s the fun part,” Szymanski said. “It’s watching how a student got to go there and gets to major in this. You get to see them grow.”
Szymanski said that perspective on education developed earlier in his career when he considered what he ultimately wanted his work to accomplish.
“Earlier in my career I was sitting down and asked myself what business I am really in,” Szymanski said. “I concluded that I’m in the opportunity business. I create opportunities for other people.”
Szymanski will hold office hours again Oct. 28.
