Expanding The George B. Delaplaine Jr. School of Business

Formally established in 2018, The George B. Delaplaine Jr. School of Business was made possible thanks to a gift from the school’s namesake and close compatriot of the College, George B. Delaplaine Jr., H’08. In a few short years, the school has grown tremendously and now houses some of Hood’s most popular programs.

Campaign donors have enabled the School of Business to add new majors, such as finance, while also pivoting to meet market trends by transitioning the Master of Business Administration to a fully online program (read more on Page 8). This focus on innovation and workforce development led to Colleges of Distinction, a college ranking organization, labeling Hood’s business offerings as a “program of distinction” in 2022-23.

Peter Castro ’23, a student-athlete and Hodson-Gilliam Scholar, is the first graduate of the new finance B.A. program. He started at Hood as a business administration major, but after learning about the finance degree, Castro jumped at the opportunity to join the inaugural class.

“Paving the way as Hood’s first finance major is definitely a cool feeling,” says Castro. “My advice for a future finance student: stay motivated by researching career opportunities in finance and finding something that excites you.”

The school has been further augmented through the addition of The Michael S., P’09 and Marlene B. Grossnickle Young ’76, H’14, P’09 Data Driven Frederick Center (DDF), which officially opened in March 2023. Named in honor of its primary benefactors and long- time Hood supporters, Marlene B. Grossnickle Young ’76, H’14, P’09, and Michael S. Young, P’09, the center was bolstered by congressional funding through the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which was secured by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen as well as Representative David Trone (D -Md.).

Data Driven Frederick acts as a hub for gathering and aggregating a wide variety of datasets. The goal is to promote data discovery, visualization and interpretation. This is achieved through developing community-wide dashboards with a shared data pipeline for users, including nonprofits, philanthropies and municipal offices in conjunction with Hood faculty and students.

“We immediately recognized the potential and powerful possibilities of having an easily accessible, centralized data hub, supported by a diverse set of community partners,” says Marlene Young. “[DDF] will drive progress through measurable outcomes and positively impact the future of Frederick County and the region at large.”

David Gurzick, M.S.’03, Ph.D., associate professor of management science and chair of The George B. Delaplaine Jr. School of Business, has found that students are drawn to the collaborative nature of DDF, where they can do meaningful data management and research for real- world clients.

“As we witness the rapidly evolving world around us, it is evident that the most progressive organizations are increasingly adopting data-driven management strategies,” says Gurzick. “By leveraging the power of data, we’re able to make more informed decisions, develop more effective strategies, craft metrics for accountability and ultimately create a more significant, positive impact on our community.”

Read the full issue of Hood Magazine here.