More than 100 staff members work in the Division of the Humanities. We’ll introduce you to our staff in this continuing series.

Joshua Oaks
Director of Digital Communications
Office of the Dean

What do you like most about your job? 

I’m passionate about using digital storytelling to share stories of impact and to help stakeholders engage more effectively. The expansion of the Division of the Arts & Humanities has afforded us a tremendous opportunity to grow our digital infrastructure, laying the foundation for incorporating new digital tools and methods to tell our division's stories.

I am very excited to be part of the team that is building the strategy for a new vision of marketing and communications for the division. It allows me to be at my most creative—and that is a rare opportunity professionally.

What was the last good book you read?

I don’t get a ton of time to read anymore because of my board game habit (795 games) but the last book that I read and loved was November Road by Lou Berney. It’s a crime novel set during the Kennedy assassination and is currently being adapted into a movie directed by Lawrence Kasden, who also directed Wyatt Earp. Lou Berney was my screenwriting teacher in college, and I've been lucky to keep in touch with him over the years. Very excited for the film!

You might work with me if …

We are working toward launching a new website for the division in August 2025. Many of you will work with me over the next five months to help get navigation, content, images, and functionality of that site ready for launch. After the site relaunch, you will most likely work with me on communications strategy related to the division and our programs and events. I will also be working on email and social media infrastructure projects following the website relaunch.

What’s a tool or resource that’s been a game-changer for you?

As cheesy as it may sound, I still use my Pomodoro Timer as a time management tool for larger tasks. My little red tomato sits on my desk, and I set it for 25 minutes when I start a task. If the timer goes off and I have not finished the task, I take a 5-minute break and then repeat with another 25-minute work period. If the task takes longer than four Pomodoros, I take a 15-minute break. It’s Tomato Time!