STEM Center Gift Bridges Disciplines

STEM Center Gift Bridges Disciplines

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Although Trustee Bob Pick ’92, P’25 studied History and Political Science on the Hill, he has always made his living in the technology sector, bringing the world of STEM closer to his heart.

“I have directly observed the value that a liberal arts education can deliver in an increasingly STEM world,” Pick says. “I have been struck by how frustrated some students were in feeling that their academic interests and passions would be a barrier to success in a STEM society. Donating to provide the STEM Center in the new Learning Commons @ Hoover Library is our direct action to alleviate this concern.”

Pick says that he and his wife, Heather, were eager to donate to this project because it establishes a visible STEM pillar in the center of campus. “The liberal arts, in many respects, are all about ‘and.’ It’s not one discipline or the other; one culture or another. It’s about navigating all,” he says. “The STEM Center and Learning Commons underscore that all disciplines, methods, cultures, learning styles, and workways are welcome, available, and supported at McDaniel.”

I have been struck by how frustrated some students were in feeling that their academic interests and passions would be a barrier to success in a STEM society. Donating to provide the STEM Center in the new Learning Commons @ Hoover Library is our direct action to alleviate this concern. ”

BOB PICK, ’92, P’25, McDANIEL COLLEGE TRUSTEE

Professionally, Pick has spent more than 11 years at Tokio Marine North America Services, where he currently serves as executive vice president and chief information officer, with responsibilities for technology strategy, delivery, IT, and business operations across the U.S., with more than 1,000 technology staff in the U.S., India, Costa Rica, U.K., and Europe.

In addition to donating to establish the new STEM Center, Pick has also recently engaged with Provost Flavius Lilly and a network of fellow alumni to re-envision the Computer Science curriculum on the Hill.

“Asking alums in a field to provide insight is a great example of the strength and sophistication of our academic programs,” Pick says. “There are notable trends in what hiring managers in this industry are seeking: understanding of modern engineering languages and methods; awareness of cybersecurity and cloud technologies; experience and understanding of user experience design; awareness of data architectures and engineering; and recently, experience with classic and generative AI. Turning the curriculum slightly away from math and toward experience with these modern methods and platforms will prepare students for early success in tech.”

This innovative emphasis on STEM programs and careers is a cornerstone of the new vision for McDaniel, and the college is grateful to donors like the Picks for making it a reality for students pursuing fields that truly represent the liberal arts and sciences.

A New Chapter for the Writing Center

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Fostering further collaboration among academic support services, the Writing Center has a new home in the Learning Commons @ Hoover Library, with a modernized facility in a central location.

Iris Levandoski ’27 is the only dual tutor who works in both the STEM Center and the Writing Center, so her unique perspective on the opportunities provided by both services has her eager for the integration this academic year.

“The McDaniel Plan is designed to combine subjects like math, writing, science, philosophy, and even food studies to give students unique perspectives to the world,” Levandoski says. “I was trained as a Writing Center tutor first, and at surface level, it seems really odd to have a Computer Science major for a writing tutor. But I need writing just as much as I need math to be successful.”

With the new Learning Commons @ Hoover Library, Levandoski says, “I am thrilled to have the ability to physically combine the two worlds of critical thinking into one space. Switching from quantitative thinking to qualitative thinking will be as simple as switching to a different tab in my browser.”

Our hope is that this new hub of services will make it easier for students to quickly and seamlessly get the help they need at all stages of their academic growth, whether that’s when they want to get ahead, stay on track, or catch up after a setback.”

—VANESSA FLORA-NAKOSKI, WRITING CENTER DIRECTOR

Writing Center Director Vanessa Flora-Nakoski looks forward to serving students in a more integrated way than they were able to in their previous location in Hill Hall.

“Our hope is that this new hub of services will make it easier for students to quickly and seamlessly get the help they need at all stages of their academic growth, whether that’s when they want to get ahead, stay on track, or catch up after a setback,” Flora-Nakoski says. “The tutors and I are very excited to have more space and options for fostering our community of McDaniel writers, building on our long-standing tradition of welcoming, cozy vibes for both academic and creative writers here on campus.”

Writing Center Tutor Morgan Holtzman ’27 echoes those sentiments: “Our previous location was out of the way for many students, but the library is a central, accessible location for everyone. The new location will enable more students to use our services at the center, and the tutors are looking forward to being able to serve more students in the upgraded space!”

Building for the Future: Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology

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A lab setting nursing simulation.
A computer-generated simulation of nursing students in a classroom.
A computer-generated nursing simulation.
A nursing lab simulation.

Beginning in fall 2026, McDaniel’s Nursing students will have access to Carroll Hospital’s state-of-the-art facilities at The Kahlert Foundation Nursing Education Center.

Inherent in our pursuit of academic excellence and innovation is transforming health care education in our region through the development of new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.), Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (M.S.O.T.), and Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (M.S. in S-LP) programs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that the growth in these three careers between 2024 and 2034 would range from 5% to 15%, so to support that workforce demand, McDaniel aims to make a lasting impact on the community’s health and well-being.

The success of these programs depends not only on hiring top-tier faculty but also a commitment to hands-on, practical learning housed in modern facilities that are equipped with simulation laboratories, state-of-the-art technology, and classrooms designed specifically for health care education to create an immersive learning environment that mirrors the rigors and realities of the health care field. Rather than spending tens of millions of dollars on new construction to house these new academic programs, the college is proud to use existing resources and partnerships to maximize our return on investment.

By 2026, the B.S.N. program will be officially based out of Carroll Hospital in The Kahlert Foundation Nursing Education Center, thanks to a landmark partnership between the college and LifeBridge Health and a $2.5 million grant from The Kahlert Foundation. “While there are numerous examples of medical systems that are affiliated with large universities, it is unique for a college to partner with an existing system in this way,” said President Julia Jasken at the announcement of the partnership last October. “We are eager to create a new model designed to create a long-term solution to address the critical need for nurses.”

McDaniel’s Nursing students will have access to Carroll Hospital’s state-of-the-art facilities, including the Kahlert Foundation Simulation Center, and be provided early and frequent exposure to clinical work within a hospital setting.

Here on the Hill, construction has begun on renovations in Merritt Hall, which will be the new home of the OT, S-LP, and Early Childhood Education programs. The space will be fitted with new simulation labs, classrooms, and even a mock apartment for OT students to learn how to set up patients for independent living.

While there are numerous examples of medical systems that are affiliated with large universities, it is unique for a college to partner with an existing system in this way. We are eager to create a new model designed to create a long-term solution to address the critical need for nurses.“

PRESIDENT JULIA JASKEN

Investing in McDaniel’s Business Legacy

Investing in McDaniel’s Business Legacy

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Renovations to upgrade the Economics and Business Administration Department in Lewis Recitation Hall took place during the summer of 2025.

Built in 1914, Lewis Recitation Hall was the first building constructed on campus following a plan developed by the Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm and is named for President Thomas Hamilton Lewis, who served as the college’s president from 1886 to 1920.

An addition was completed in 1966 and the construction of Lewis Hall of Science to create science laboratories and classrooms for the Biology, Chemistry, and Physics departments occurred in 2001. Lewis Hall of Science is connected by hallways to Lewis Recitation Hall.

The architect behind these renovations is Marshall Craft Associates, Inc., of Baltimore and the general contractor is Harvey Construction of Hunt Valley, Maryland.

This renovation will provide our faculty and staff with a welcoming, inviting space that will truly showcase our business program and makes an incredible difference for current and future McDaniel students.“

FLAVIUS LILY, PROVOST

Funding for the over $600,000 project is entirely supported by donors, including:

Professor Emeritus of Economics and Business Administration Ethan Seidel and McDaniel Trustee Deborah Dale Seidel ’84

James M. Lamont ’80 and McDaniel Trustee Karen Bellamy Lamont ’81

McDaniel Trustee Walter Olson and Steve Pippin, parents of Timothy Olson ’23

Rand Blazer ’72

The late Raymond Albert ’62 and Linda Albert

For Nine Women Known As The Round Robins, College Ties Can Ne’er Be Broken

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Since meeting in McDaniel Hall in 1966, the Round Robins have remained connected through the decades with monthly book club gatherings, weekly Zoom cocktail hours during the COVID-19 pandemic, and annual getaways. In April this year, they gathered once again to honor one of their own after the passing of Patricia Johnson “PJ” Krantz ’70.

The legacy of the Robins will continue here on the Hill through a generous bequest, including an endowed scholarship and Round Robins memorabilia to be placed in McDaniel Hall.

In addition, Krantz left an Itzchak Tarkey watercolor painting titled “Café Society” to the college. She was drawn to it because of the number of women in the painting: nine, the number of Round Robins in her friend group, which included Susan Robertson Cline ’70, Carol Harris Dietrich ’70, Sherry Swope Peck ’70, Jane Butterbaugh Shapiro ’70, Barbara Payne Shelton ’70, Karen Wagner Tegges ’70, Barbara Thomas ’70, and Sue Morales Yingling ’70, M.S. ’00.

“Every time I look at the painting, I think of eight wonderful women and cherish our friendship — this picture honors them,” Krantz wrote in her bequest intention in 2015.

“I think a lot of people take for granted the value of what they got at a small college like McDaniel,” says Trustee and Round Robin Barbara Payne Shelton ’70. “The lifelong friendships we formed at McDaniel are such a huge part of our lives.”

I think a lot of people take for granted the value of what they got at a small college like McDaniel. The lifelong friendships we formed at McDaniel are such a huge part of our lives. ”

BARBARA PAYNE SHELTON ’70
McDANIEL COLLEGE TRUSTEE