Multi-Media veteran Dennis House will join West Hartford’s University of Saint Joseph as a Visiting Fellow in Digital Media and Communication.

By Ronni Newton

Dennis House. Courtesy photo

Dennis House will bring his decades of media experience to the University of Saint Joseph beginning in January, when he joins the West Hartford university as a Visiting Fellow in Digital Media and Communications.

USJ announced Tuesday that House “will share his expertise during USJ-sponsored public forums and in courses that prepare students for careers in digital and social media.”

House, who has more than 30 years experience in television journalism, as a reporter, producer, and anchor, parted ways with WFSB in September, after 28 years at the station. Since then he has remained extremely active in the Hartford community, assisting with fundraisers, emceeing events, co-hosting a radio show on WTIC, and engaging with the public online through various social and digital media. He has also been writing prolifically, posting to his personal blog several times a week.

“Like the rest of Connecticut, we have welcomed Dennis into our homes for decades and now we are all very excited to welcome him to work with our students in our new multi-media digital lab and classroom,” University of Saint Joseph President Rhona Free said in a statement. Free believes House will quickly feel right at home. “He shares the values of the University with a commitment to preparing students to meet the needs of the community that he has served with such integrity and honesty as a reporter and news anchor.”

According to USJ, House will co-teach digital media and communication courses along with other USJ faculty, including Assistant Professor Pablo Correa, Ph.D., a documentary film-maker and digital media developer. Correa joined the faculty of USJ earlier this year to launch the new media program.

“I’m excited to be able to walk onto this beautiful campus,” said House.

After many years of moderating debates and covering news events on the campus, he said it already feels like home said.

“I’m excited to teach students about digital media, which is becoming more and more a part of everyday life and business. I’m grateful to President Free and the USJ community for the opportunity,” House said.

“I’m also hoping I can have lunch with Jim Calhoun in the faculty lounge,” he added.

USJ stated in their announcement that the program has already been successful in attracting students, and the increased demand by employers in all industries for a workforce trained in the use of digital and social media for marketing, training, and communication, bringing those with real world experience to the classroom will ensure that the curriculum is “cutting edge and aligned with industry trends and best practices.”

“Engaging Dennis House is USJ’s most recent success in bringing leading practitioners and industry experts in education, health care, and athletics to join academic faculty in preparing students for careers and graduate study,” the USJ announcement stated.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.