The fall semester has brought several new changes to Waynesburg University’s fine arts department. The department has teamed up with the business administration department.

Additionally, leadership roles within the fine arts department were established. The changes were made to the Chairperson in the department. Andrew Heisey took over this role who is also a professor of art and art program director.

Heisey said the university wanted to push the art administration program further by giving an art major with more benefits in the business world.

“What we had been working is a program that’s not just art music and theater but [kind of] the entertainment business,” said Heisey.

The purpose of the collaboration is to have the skillset of how to be able to work in an entertainment environment like running a theater or concert hall.

“By putting the art administration program in the business department, it opens up the door. We can create this entertainment business major – and then you can concentrate in other areas,” said Heisey.

In addition to the business and fine arts departments working together, Heisey said the ultimate goal of collaborating with the business administration program, is to work with more majors as one.

“It would be great if we can create something that’s a little broader than just the fine arts department,” said Heisey, “so it’s kind of a new way of looking at that we’re still figuring out what that means and working with other departments. The goal is to really work in union.”

Heisey expressed his optimism for this year and the change with his new chair position.

“I love working with the students, I am so excited the students are back. I love seeing them in class,” said Heisey, “what’s been really neat about the chair position is I get to work with other students but also, I get to work with other parts of the university, which I’ve never had the opportunity to do. I have had a bunch of meetings with Institutional Advancement or talk with the registrar and it’s just been neat to work with other groups on the campus that I didn’t always get the chance to talk with. I just enjoy working with people and that’s been fun.”

Heisey is looking forward to the collaboration with departments to give the students further opportunity so artists can make a living.

“You can be both the artist but you can also be running the business and that’s so important. Artists really need that background because they need to sell their product.”

Heisey’s love for his job and the students creates a growing environment for himself, as well as students.

“The students are fantastic. I’ve had great experiences with students that come and go out of class, we have great conversations,” said Heisey. “What’s really great about Waynesburg in the fine arts is I am in the midst of creativity all the time. It is so much fun to see students who aren’t here necessarily for an arts major. Seeing that they can do the arts, whether they’re in choir or in the symphonic band, or in an art class.”