A champion of both the liberal arts and McDaniel’s student-centered mission, Dr. Jasken has overseen many of the college’s most important strategic initiatives that created opportunity for McDaniel’s past two years of record enrollments. Dr. Jasken developed, and then served as director of, the Center for Experience & Opportunity, the college’s one-stop shop for experiential education and career development for McDaniel students and alumni. While serving as the McDaniel’s first associate provost, she collaboratively built the college’s first cross-divisional entrepreneurship program.
Dr. Jasken envisioned and designed the college’s signature McDaniel Commitment, which emphasizes experiential learning and alumni connections, and guarantees that every student, guided by a team of mentors, can construct and tailor their personal educational path. Under Dr. Jasken's leadership, McDaniel has launched 13 new career-oriented majors and chartered professional pathways for students through agreements with graduate schools and community colleges as well as McDaniel’s own five-year bachelor’s-to-master’s programs.
President Jasken leads the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Administrative Team, the group of campus leaders who are responsible for advancing the recommendations of the college’s DEI Advisory Group as part of the college's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. In addition, President Jasken oversaw the development of the college’s first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion statement that was unanimously endorsed by the Board of Trustees. President Jasken is committed to ensuring racial and social justice for all members of our community.
The McDaniel Women’s Leadership Network (MWLN) is comprised of alumni and friends of the college who are working to build connections and develop programs to attract and engage women in the life of the college. Leading the initiative, President Jasken works closely with the MWLN Advisory Council to support the achievement of their goals in the community.
With a strong focus on graduation and completion for all students, President Jasken led the establishment of the college’s first standing committee for student success and spearheaded the launch of the college’s first STEM Center, which centralizes the college’s academic tutoring. Under her tenure, the college also appointed an associate vice president of student success, a new role at the college, to oversee initiatives in student retention.
“Reaching New Heights: McDaniel College Strategic Plan 2022-27” shapes McDaniel’s future by guiding the direction, priorities, and investments for the college. Work on the strategic plan began in fall 2021 with the formation of a Strategic Planning Steering Committee, comprised of 30 representatives of the administration, faculty, staff, alumni, and undergraduate and graduate students, and led by President Julia Jasken. The steering committee developed the plan with input from McDaniel’s wider community, including staff, faculty, students, alumni, family members, and community partners, through surveys, small group discussions, and larger open forums. The plan was approved by the Board of Trustees in October 2022.
Established by President Jasken in 2023, "Out of Darkness: A Celebration of Light" combined beloved college history with new experiences to create a new, lively campus tradition in the winter holiday season.
Under President Jasken's leadership, the college launched Carroll County Scholars, a program for 8th and 10th grade students who live in Carroll County. Since 1984, McDaniel has provided scholarships for local students to attend the college, funded largely by Carroll County businesses and McDaniel alumni. This re-envisioned program offers additional opportunities to help local students achieve their educational goals.
Dr. Jasken oversaw the launch of the 58-acre McDaniel Environmental Center, an outdoor learning lab that provides students with opportunities to engage in research and course-based experiences, lab-based experiential learning, community service projects, and independent study work.
President Jasken collaboratively built the college’s first cross-divisional entrepreneurship program and believes that entrepreneurship and innovation help our students develop essential skills that will help them throughout life.
