It is with profound sorrow that Capitol Technology University announces the passing of Dr. H. Judith Jarrell, an eternal supporter of the university and pillar of this community. Dr. Jarrell passed on May 12, 2020 at 84 years old, nearly 30 years of which she spent working at Capitol Tech in a variety of roles spanning from Librarian to Director of Development to Vice President for Institutional Advancement. Throughout her time at Capitol Tech, Dr. Jarrell worked on projects that had far-reaching benefits for prospective students, current students, and alumni.
Dr. Jarrell spearheaded efforts to establish several scholarships for minorities and women and worked tirelessly to implement and evaluate programs to identify and retain under-represented groups in engineering. In addition, she created the prestigious NASA/PREP pre-college summer program, which strengthens the academic skills of minority students; was responsible for the college's publications program, which won two awards in the 1980s; and secured funding to develop the Career Services Office.
Dr. Jarrell headed the institution's first capital campaign, which raised $3.8 million–$300,000 over its goal–to create the current campus in Laurel, Maryland. At the same time, she also obtained several federal grants under Title III and Title VIII, which enabled the college to expand its development of career planning services, cooperative education, and academic programs.
In the 1990s, Dr. Jarrell directed a campaign which raised $3 million for the renovation and expansion of the John G. and Beverly A. Puente Library, through a generous donation from Trustee Emeritus John Puente and his wife Beverly.
In June 2000, through assistance from Mr. Puente and former Board of Trustee Vice Chair, Mr. H. Brian Thompson, the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund committed $3 million to build the William G. McGowan Academic Center. Dr. Jarrell began planning a capital campaign to raise $11.2 million for the Center and campus development project.
Between 1978 and 2003 she raised more than $16 million with the support of the Board of Trustees.
Her efforts, in collaboration with Dr. Troxler’s, resulted in the attainment of campus property and the construction of the Laurel campus’ first buildings. Dr. Troxler found her to be a valuable asset to the university.
“She was tireless in her effort to find resources. No one could cultivate donors as well as she did with such a limited budget and array of campus activities,” said Dr. Troxler. "Judy was an archetype of the kind of leader institutions and nations need.”
This profound sentiment from Dr. Troxler is not new. In the 2002 interview he conducted with Dr. Jarrell, Dr. Troxler said “Your family is unique in this institution. It's not just you as Vice President.” He then listed the many ways the entire Jarrell family was involved with the institution including: a daughter, Laura, and son, Jim, both with Capitol degrees; another daughter, Liz, maintained NASA connections that intertwined her with the various Capitol Tech programs hosted at the Administration; and her husband, Leonard, who was intimately involved with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
"When I started working here, Liz was a junior in high school and Susan was in her freshman year. Laura was seven-and-a-half. They've been connected with this college most of their lives. There are old pictures of the different college events and you can see the family participating in the college life. It's just been a part of the family's life,” Dr. Jarrell said. “When Leonard died, I just knew that we were going to set up a scholarship endowment in his name, because of the close connection. That really embodies all the familial connections, how Leonard felt about the institution and how all of us really have felt about education.”
Judy was predeceased by Leonard Jarrell, her husband of over 41 years when he passed away in 1998. Judy is survived by her three children, Elizabeth M. Jarrell of Kensington, Maryland; Susan Kushnir (Aaron) of Glen Rock, New Jersey; Laura Jarrell Miller (James) of Bethesda, Maryland; sister Paula Gartman of Rockville, Maryland (Chaim, deceased); and grandchildren Kara Louise Miller, Maxwell David Kushnir, Dara Jillian Kushnir, and Chelsea Mintz Miller.
“Judy's passing should be a reminder to all that leadership, courage, persistence and care for fellow human beings matter deeply in the development of the institutions that support a healthy, civil society,” said Dr. Troxler of his close friend and coworker. “Without question the university would not be as strong as it is today without Judy's work.”
In lieu of flowers the family recommend donations to the Leonard and H. Judith Jarrell Memorial Scholarship, originally established by Judy at the time of her husband’s death. If you wish to contribute to the fund at this time donations can be made here https://7998.thankyou4caring.org/the-leonard-and-h.-judith-jarrell-memorial-scholarship-.