Award-winning filmmaker, TV writer selected to lead Hollywood Program

An entertainment industry veteran who has been a part of the Penn State Hollywood Program since its inception has been selected to serve as director of the program.

Deepak Sethi, an award-winning filmmaker and television writer, will succeed Robert D. Richards, the founding director of the program. Richards, the John and Ann Curley Professor of First Amendment Studies and the longest-tenured faculty member in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, will retire June 30, 2024.

Sethi has taught in the Hollywood Program and worked alongside Richards since the program’s started in 2015. An accomplished screenwriter and director, Sethi has taught every student who has come through the program.

“There’s no doubt Bob will be missed, but his planning and vision will enable the Penn State Hollywood Program to move seamlessly forward as Deepak Sethi becomes the program’s director,” said Marie Hardin, dean of the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. “We’re excited about the passion and proven success Deepak brings to the position. More importantly, he cares deeply about our students and their success.”

Sethi’s writing credits include “Apple & Onion,” “Family Guy,” “Brickleberry and “Close Enough.” He’s also worked as a voice actor and stand-up comedian. His 2019 film “Coffee Shop Names,” which he wrote and directed, won the ScriptHouse Award during the BFI London Film Festival and a Tribeca X Award at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Sethi’s family operated a food company in Canada, and he earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science as well as a master’s degree in business administration. His passion was writing, though, and a personal blog opened the door to what has become a successful career in entertainment.

He’s excited about the opportunity to lead the Hollywood Program after working with Penn State students for years.

“The students are driven and passionate,and there’s a community approach they bring to what they do,” Sethi said. “It feels like I’ve become a Penn Stater just by being around them through the years, and finding ways to help more students succeed makes this position really exciting.”