edited by Shannon Rogers
McDaniel College is planning to launch a new School of Business and Technology, marking the first comprehensive academic school in the institution’s history. College leaders say the new school could open as early as fall 2027.
College President Julia Jasken announced the initiative as part of the college’s effort to strengthen academic programs and better prepare students for the rapidly changing workforce.
The proposed school will bring together several of the college’s existing academic programs, including accounting, business administration, computer science, economics, entrepreneurship, international business, marketing, and management. Administrators say combining these areas under a single school will expand interdisciplinary learning and provide clearer career pathways for students.
“Business-related programs are already among McDaniel’s most popular offerings, and the integration of technology presents an opportunity for stronger alignment,” Jasken said. “Moving toward a specialized school model provides the opportunity to enhance interdisciplinary learning and create clearer pathways for students.”
Plans for the school followed a yearlong internal review conducted by faculty from the college’s Economics and Business Administration and Mathematics and Computer Science departments in collaboration with campus leadership. After reviewing the findings, the college’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved moving forward with the new school during its February meeting.
As planning continues, McDaniel has launched a national search for the school’s inaugural dean, who will help shape the new school’s academic direction and identity.
The college is also searching for a new Endowed Professor of Computer Science and Technology Innovation. The position was funded through a $2 million grant from the Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund, administered by the Maryland Department of Commerce, along with matching support from a $15 million bequest from alumnus Jonas Eshelman, the largest gift in McDaniel’s history.
Both the dean and the endowed professor are expected to begin at the college during the 2026–27 academic year, ahead of the school’s planned opening.
