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. Early in her presidency, Dr. Jasken launched the college’s 2022-27 strategic plan, Reaching New Heights, which aims to changes lives by inspiring students to achieve educational excellence and realize their potential within a supportive, inclusive, and diverse community. Dr. Jasken has also reinvigorated the McDaniel Women’s Leadership Network and reimagined Carroll County Scholars, creating opportunities for the McDaniel College and Westminster, Maryland, communities.
While serving as McDaniel’s first associate provost, she collaboratively built the college’s first cross-divisional entrepreneurship program. Then, as provost, Dr. Jasken developed and served as director of the Center for Experience and Opportunity and envisioned and designed the college’s signature McDaniel Commitment. Under Dr. Jasken's provostship, McDaniel launched eight 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 pathways.
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.
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.
“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.
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 established the annual Academic Symposium in 2021 to provide the campus community with opportunities to share McDaniel research and accomplishments in the liberal arts. The all-day event is open to the public and takes place throughout campus.
