Isaac McDaniel

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Isaac McDaniel

Isaac McDaniel
Bachelor of Arts in English and Communication, 2008
Leader of a Small Security Firm

"The knowledge I earned at Ashford has been much help to the tasks I have taken on and my accomplishments." 

When Isaac McDaniel was a student at Ashford University, he was one of those people who everybody knew. Not only was he one of two heads of security on campus, but he was also a frequent contributor to Ashford's student newspaper, The Clarion, an indoor soccer player, and a member of Campus Pals, Student Government Association, and Student Ambassadors. Further, he was an active-duty soldier, serving in the National Guard.

If it weren't for some last-minute quick thinking, McDaniel and Ashford might never have come together. He was just days away from transferring to a monster-sized university in Massachusetts when he received an offer from Ashford, which he called "a picture-perfect deal." McDaniel is grateful for the opportunity, and glad he made the right choice in the nick of time. He can honestly say, "You name it and AU will provide it."

Although he preferred the small community of Ashford over a giant school for his undergraduate studies, McDaniel refused to limit his options for the future. Just three weeks after his graduation in 2008, McDaniel learned he had been accepted to Boston University. He packed his bags and moved to Massachusetts to start his graduate studies in criminal justice.

But there's more. McDaniel explains, "In the middle of the semester, I attended a conference at Harvard University, and a former US ambassador started asking me questions. She pleaded with me to come to Harvard. She had her assistant take my info, and the next day I registered for a single winter term at the Kennedy School of Government (KSG)." During his term at Harvard, McDaniel wrote proposals that focus on promoting women's rights in Rwanda and other conflict zones. 

Ashford University congratulates McDaniel on his success - he is truly an example of what Ashford students can accomplish. 

Update:

McDaniel, now 25, is living in Washington, D.C. He has graduated with his Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from Boston University, and from the accelerated course in Inclusive Security from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. “Since finishing my Master’s degree, I have led a small security firm,” he explains. When asked if he feels his Ashford degree has been beneficial, McDaniel replies with enthusiasm. “Most definitely! The knowledge I earned at Ashford has been much help to the tasks I have taken on and to my accomplishments. Without the encouragement and help from professors like Dr. Carl Robinson, my success would have been slim.”
Isaac McDaniel