Millsaps College Welcomes New Provost: Dr. Daniel Jasper

Joey Lee

February 3, 2025

"Dr. Daniel Jasper brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished academic career to Millsaps."

Millsaps College is proud to welcome Dr. Daniel Jasper as its new provost. Jasper brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished academic career to the school, having served in various leadership roles at William Jewell College and Moravian University.

“I’m thrilled to have Dr. Jasper join the Millsaps community,” said Frank Neville, Millsaps president. “His leadership experience, track record of innovation and dedication to academic excellence will undoubtedly contribute to the continued growth and success of the college.”

Jasper joins Millsaps from William Jewell College, a liberal arts institution in the Kansas City metropolitan area, where he serves as the vice president of academic affairs. During his tenure, he led significant initiatives that reshaped the academic landscape of the school. He led a task force to reimagine academic affairs, spearheaded the development of new graduate programs and developed a program to support students in their transition to college.

“I’m excited to become a part of Millsaps College,” said Jasper. “I look forward to collaborating with the dedicated faculty, staff and students to uphold the college’s tradition of academic excellence.”

Before his role at William Jewell, Jasper held several key positions at Moravian University, including associate provost and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. His leadership was marked by numerous accomplishments, such as the development of new academic programs and interdisciplinary initiatives, including Asian studies and peace and justice studies.

“Daniel’s creativity and energy make him the perfect choice to help lead Millsaps into the future,” Neville said. “His demonstrated commitment to academic excellence and his success in developing new programs and initiatives will be invaluable in helping us reach our aspirations of growth and innovation.”

Dr. Jasper holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the New School for Social Research, where he also earned his M.A. He also holds a B.A. in sociology from Macalester College and a certificate in Marathi Language and Culture from Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeet in India.

“As Daniel assumes the role of provost, I want to thank Stephanie Rolph for her outstanding service as interim provost,” Neville said. “Stephanie has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication during this transitional period, and I deeply appreciate her hard work and commitment to her alma mater.”

Jasper will complete the semester at William Jewell and begin his duties at Millsaps on June 1.