College Leadership

McDaniel College is led by President Julia Jasken, and a Board of Trustees. The senior leadership team supports the functions of the college and make up the President's Council.

The Board of Trustees

McDaniel College's board of trustees is the governing body of the college. Their governance encompasses many duties and responsibilities, including responsibility for strategic planning and oversight of the president. As the final authority for the college, our trustees make legal and fiduciary decisions, and are responsible for developing and approving the school’s mission, strategic goals and objectives.

McDaniel's 10th President Dr. Julia Jasken, President

On June 1, 2021, Dr. Julia Jasken became the 10th president of McDaniel College and the second woman president in the college’s 154-year history. Over her tenure at McDaniel, Dr. Jasken has assumed increasing responsibility in administrative positions, serving the college’s executive vice president and provost immediately preceding her presidency. Her expertise spans community engagement; new academic program development; academic and campus life restructuring; student success initiatives; adjunct faculty union contract negotiations; and building and supporting a culture of safety compliance.

Learn more about Dr. Jasken Email the President's Office

The senior leadership team is comprised of talented higher education administrators that bring significant experience to McDaniel College. In addition to overseeing units within the college, members of the senior leadership team also serve as trusted advisors to President Jasken.

Caroline R. Sherman, Ph.D, Provost

Areas of Oversight: Academic life and undergraduate and graduate academic programs, including curriculum, staffing, instruction, assessment, and faculty development.

Dr. Sherman joins McDaniel College in July 2026 after serving as vice provost for academic administration and dean of graduate studies at The Catholic University of America. In this role, she supervised administrators and staff in the Office of the Provost and worked collaboratively with faculty and administrators across 12 academic schools. She previously held leadership positions in the School of Arts and Sciences, including vice dean, senior associate dean, and associate dean for faculty.

Janelle Holmboe, Executive Vice President for Constituent Engagement

Areas of Oversight: Admissions, financial aid, marketing and communications

Ms. Holmboe joined McDaniel College in 2018 after serving as the vice president of enrollment and marketing at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC. A proven enrollment leader, Ms. Holmboe has a wide range of strategic enrollment and marketing experience in addition to strong financial skills and leadership expertise.

Contact Ms. Holmboe: jholmboe@mcdaniel.edu

Eric Simon, Ph.D., Vice President for Administration and Finance

Areas of Oversight: Auxiliary Services, environmental health and safety, facilities management, financial services, human resources, information technology, and legal.

Dr. Simon joined McDaniel as the vice president for administration and finance after serving as assistant vice chancellor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). In addition to breadth and depth of experience in finance, facilities, and human resources, Dr. Simon also brings a background in student life that informs his holistic and student-centered approach to administration and finance.

Contact Dr. Simon: esimon@mcdaniel.edu

Dave Sears, Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Areas of Oversight: development, annual giving, alumni engagement, advancement engagement, advancement services

Mr. Sears joined McDaniel College in 2022 after serving as senior vice president of advancement and community engagement at Montgomery College in Rockville, Md. He previously served as director of athletic development at Georgetown University and vice president of advancement at Loyola University Maryland. Mr. Sears brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education fundraising and development to McDaniel.

Contact Mr. Sears: dsears@mcdaniel.edu