Arts and Humanities Associate Dean takes on interim business and professional studies dean position

In order to move closer to his family, Rashmi Prasad, dean of business and professional studies, resigned from Truman State University, Oct. 16. 

 

“My parents are aging and require some degree of support,” Prasad said. “I’ve taken a job someplace where it’ll be easier to get where they are. Truman has a lot to be proud of, so it’s been a joy to work with [alumni] and with my colleagues on campus.I have spent more than five years here and leave with a lot of appreciation for the history of the heritage and with gratitude and hopefully with a lot of friends I’ll maintain.”

 

The dean position will temporarily be filled by associate dean Eric Dickson from the arts and humanities department, starting in the spring semester. Until then, Tim Walston, interim vice president and provost, said he will cover the dean’s responsibilities for the next two months by following Prasad’s plans and working with the Associate Dean Lance Radcliff and the department chairs.

 

Dickson said he appreciates having two months to wrap his head around the interim position. 

 

“It was very much a shock when the provost asked me if I would be willing to serve the university in this capacity,” Dickson said. 

 

Dickson said he would not consider applying to be the dean of business and professional studies on a long-term basis. However, he sees the interim position as an opportunity. 

 

“I have my own personal career aspirations of being a dean at some point down the road,” Dickson said. 

 

Dickson has worked at Truman for 10 years in the music department and started his role of associate dean of arts and humanities last fall when the role was created. He said he would love to be a dean of a school of arts and humanities or arts and sciences down the road.

 

“Even though I’ll be stepping into a role that’s outside of my home discipline of the art,” Dickson said. “The biggest asset I can bring to this interim position is just a willingness to learn about all of these new disciplines and a willingness to interact with everybody that’s on faculty and involved with the school and really try to move things forward while we search for a new dean.”

 

Dickson has participated in leadership programs, including the Truman Leadership Academy and an external conference called the Beard Leadership Circle for public liberal arts colleges.

“[Dickson] is somebody who has been increasing his leadership on our campus and has been engaging in learning more about leadership and really has been demonstrating to me in my interactions with him that he is going to be an outstanding leader,” Walston said.

 

Dickson had worked with Prasad on the dean’s board and interdisciplinary projects. 

 

“He’s one of the smartest people I’ve ever met and he’s also very measured and very thoughtful as he approaches his role as dean,” Dickson said. “My goal is that I can help move the initiatives that he has already put in place forward and keep everything on track.”