WESTMINSTER, Md. (WBFF) — McDaniel College is moving forward with plans to establish its first comprehensive academic school, a new School of Business and Technology, with a projected launch as early as fall 2027.
College President Julia Jasken announced the initiative, describing it as a strategic step to strengthen academic offerings and better prepare students for evolving workforce demands.
Business-related programs are already among McDaniel’s most popular offerings, and the integration of technology presents an opportunity for stronger alignment,” Jasken said, via press release. “Moving towards a specialized school model provides the opportunity to enhance interdisciplinary learning and create clearer pathways for students.
The college’s Board of Trustees unanimously endorsed the plan during its February meeting following a yearlong review conducted by faculty in the Economics and Business Administration and Mathematics and Computer Science departments, in collaboration with college leadership.
The new school will bring together McDaniel’s existing programs in accounting, business administration, computer science, economics, entrepreneurship, international business, marketing and management under one academic umbrella.
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As part of the launch, McDaniel has begun a national search for the school’s inaugural dean, who will help shape its identity and strategic direction.
The college is also conducting a concurrent search for a new Endowed Professor of Computer Science and Technology Innovation.
The endowed professorship was funded through a $2 million grant from the Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund (MEIF), administered by the Maryland Department of Commerce.
The grant was matched in part by a portion of the largest gift in McDaniel’s history — a $15 million bequest from the late Jonas Eshelman, a 1950 alumnus.
Both the new dean and the endowed professor are expected to begin their roles during the 2026–27 academic year, ahead of the school’s anticipated opening.
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Additional information about McDaniel College is available at mcdaniel.edu.
