News around campus and beyond
A new partnership between LifeBridge Health and McDaniel addresses the need for qualified nurses by housing McDaniel’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program at Carroll Hospital.
McDaniel Nursing students will have access to clinical placements at LifeBridge Health locations. McDaniel is establishing the LifeBridge Legacy Scholarship for the children of LifeBridge Health employees.
Additionally, McDaniel received a $2.5 million grant from The Kahlert Foundation. Carroll Hospital worked with McDaniel to build the college’s B.S.N. program, which combines the liberal arts with the technical knowledge and skills to prepare future nurses who are practicing in diverse health care settings. The new partnership expands this effort by having McDaniel’s Nursing program housed at Carroll Hospital, including offices, Nursing classrooms, and labs.
Beginning in fall 2026, 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.
Watch highlights of the announcement at Carroll Hospital:
McDaniel celebrated 20 new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) who participated in the college’s first cohort of a three-semester graduate course sequence, developed as part of a $1.8 million Teacher Collaborative Grant from the Maryland State Department of Education.
A key component of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is enhancing the quality of education in Maryland by attracting and retaining NBCTs who have not only completed a rigorous, performance-based, and peer-review process, but are also recognized as accomplished teachers and leaders in their profession.
The goal of McDaniel’s program is to assist in increasing the number of teachers earning this nationally recognized advanced teaching credential through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the highest certification that a teacher can obtain.
All of those newly certified teachers currently teach in Carroll County Public Schools and achieved an impressive 83% achievement rate, above the 71% current pass rate for National Board Certification.
New National Board Certified Teachers include:
• Kristy Bevans, Central Office• Kate Breakey ’03, M.S. ’08, West Middle School• Zachary Brown, South Carroll High School• Laura Bullock, Runnymede Elementary School• Rebecca Comegna M.S. ’14, Century High School• Ashley Everhart, Spring Garden Elementary School• Jennifer Girard ’08, M.S. ’23, Winters Mill High School• Amy Glascock, Winfield Elementary School• Derrik Hess, Elmer Wolfe Elementary School• Brandy Hunt, Mt. Airy Middle School• Serra Jarboe ’15, Westminster High School• Jessica Krantz, Winfield Elementary School• Lauren Latané-Valis M.S. ’13, Liberty High School• Jennifer Miller, Runnymede Elementary School• Frank Reaver, Century High School• Jami Robinson ’01, M.S. ’08, Runnymede Elementary School• Shaun Thompson ’20, Eldersburg Elementary School• Catherine Vane, Shiloh Middle School• Brianna Warner, ESOL Resource Teacher• Kaetlin Wienholt, South Carroll High School
To learn about another element of this grant, read about the Teacher Collaborative Fellowship and accelerated Master of Science in Teaching.
The college recently began renovations on the first floor of Hoover Library to create a new Learning Commons, which combines the college’s academic deans and student success coaches, Writing Center, STEM Center, and Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS), with library and information technology resources. The $3.6 million renovation, which is expected to be complete for the fall 2025 semester, is supported by donors with efforts underway to secure additional funds.
Donors include: current McDaniel trustees Charles A. Boehlke Jr. ’78; Marjorie Rankin Kimble M.Ed. ’86 and Jeffrey Kimble M.Ed. ’84; Millard Mazer ’83; Robert Pick ’92, parent of current senior Reagan Pick; James Francis ’84; and the late Jean Andrews Richards ’45 and Donald Richards.
According to McDaniel Provost Flavius Lilly, “The Learning Commons represents McDaniel’s commitment to integrated student support and academic excellence. By uniting our key resources and services in one space, we create a collaborative environment that enhances learning and empowers every student to succeed.”
Assistant Professor of Sociology Ginger Berndt was named managing editor of the academic journal Sociological Forum. From researching, reviewing, and keeping things organized, Berndt plays a key role in helping scholars achieve their dreams of publication. In this role, she is gaining a firsthand look at the most cutting-edge research in her field.
Alumni couple Bryson and Carol Popham, who both graduated from the college in 1973, created the Mildred R. Popham Scholarship in honor of Bryson’s mother through a $160,000 gift commitment.
Up to four $10,000 annual scholarships will be awarded starting in the 2025-26 academic year to graduates of Glen Burnie High School (GBHS) in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, with preference given to students planning to major or minor in Education. The program consists of a collaborative relationship between McDaniel and GBHS. The two institutions have already begun to work together in support of the scholarship with GBHS counselors visiting McDaniel’s campus.
