Nicki James ’26 at the 2025 Scholarship Luncheon
(l-r) Trustee Bruce Preston ’75, Nicki James ’26, Danielle Carter ’25, Dimitri Raush-Gernet ’27, President Julia Jasken.
At just 21 years old, Nicki James ’26 has a resume that would rival many mid-career professionals when it comes to community involvement, both here on the Hill and in Westminster and Carroll County as a whole.
“Community engagement is important to me because I believe people are stronger together,” James says. “When we actively participate in our communities, from the Hill to Carroll County, we create meaningful connections that foster belonging and improve everyone’s quality of life.”
The senior who will complete her degree in Social Work in May says that there’s something special about knowing you belong somewhere and that others are invested in your success. Read more about her journey in her own words.
WHAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE YOU INVOLVED IN HERE AT McDANIEL?
Dorsey Scholar, President’s Advisory Council of Students, Honors Program, Student Government Association, Maryland Student Legislature, Honor and Conduct Board, the Center for Experience and Opportunity’s International Programs/Study Abroad, Trumpeters, Admissions Student Ambassador, McDaniel Women’s Leadership Network, Barbell Club, and Readers’ Roundtable.
WHAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH OUTSIDE OF THE COLLEGE?
Rudolph Girls independent bookstore, Carroll County Democrats, The Arc of Carroll County, Carroll County Women’s Leadership Conference, Carroll County Arts Council, and Equal Justice Initiative.
HOW HAVE YOU FOUND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY BELONGING HERE ON THE HILL?
It sounds funny to answer a question about community by saying that I found community in showing up alone, but I did. I made it a point to get involved in as many things as I possibly could — even if it meant showing up by myself. And that’s where the best part happened. By showing up alone, I met people, tried new things, and found myself in a community based on genuine interest, curiosity, and connection. McDaniel’s size makes it the perfect environment to build multiple communities. In a lot of larger schools, community is formed within academic departments and majors. On the Hill, you definitely form a community within your major, but most professors and staff know students by name, even if they’re not in their department or major. Whether it’s in the new Learning Commons or at an event like Out of Darkness, McDaniel provides the perfectly sized space for small interactions that can turn into strong relationships.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF THE McDANIEL WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP NETWORK TO CURRENT McDANIEL STUDENTS?
The greatest benefit of the Women’s Leadership Network is the way it has given me support that is specific to the issues women may experience in leadership roles. For example, at the Women’s Leadership Network event last fall, we gained practical skills for how to deal with imposter syndrome. In the spring, we learned about the importance of prioritizing our own health.
I take every chance I can to thank donors, because their generosity has allowed me to attend McDaniel and have life-changing opportunities before I have even graduated. I love being able to show donors that their gifts matter and change lives, and I hope I can make them proud with taking the opportunities they have made possible for me.“
NICKI JAMES ’26
AS A STUDENT, WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF PHILANTHROPY AND DONORS TO THE McDANIEL EXPERIENCE?
I wouldn’t be at McDaniel or have had access to any of the opportunities and experiences I have had in college without the generosity of donors, especially through experiential learning grants. Events like the Scholarship Luncheon, Founders Day Reception, and the 1867 Challenge generate awareness of what’s possible through philanthropy. New things pop up on campus all the time, but when students aren’t aware that donors are the reason we have things like the Learning Commons @ Hoover Library, or a new track, or renovated offices, we take them for granted.
Last semester, I took a Social Work course where we learned about how nonprofit organizations function. We had the opportunity to hear from Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dave Sears, who explained how much work his staff does to fund everything from summer research to the new BSU Clubroom to scholarships to major renovations. That class opened my eyes to the importance of donors and fundraising.
WHAT DO YOU WISH YOUR PEERS KNEW ABOUT PHILANTHROPY?
I wish my peers had opportunities to learn about philanthropy from the business side of it, as well as the human side of it, because it would open their eyes. I take every chance I can to thank donors, because their generosity has allowed me to attend McDaniel and have life-changing opportunities before I have even graduated. I love being able to show donors that their gifts matter and change lives, and I hope I can make them proud with taking the opportunities they have made possible for me.