Dear F&M Community,
Today, we are pleased to announce a gift of $1 million from Brett Harwood ’71 to support F&M’s vibrant Jewish life programming, foster campus dialogue, fund a faculty position, and boost the College’s student retention efforts. Brett’s gift ensures that our students have the resources, mentorship, and spaces they need not only to feel a strong sense of belonging, but to practice the kind of thoughtful, civil inquiry that defines a Franklin & Marshall education. I am grateful to Brett for his leadership, generosity, and enduring commitment to our students.
We also share news today of our commencement speaker: Troy Vincent, the current executive vice president of football operations at the NFL and former cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles and other teams. Mr. Vincent is an exceptional leader, in professional sports and well beyond, and we look forward to presenting him with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at the College’s 239th Commencement on May 9.
There's much more news below, including the announcement that our Vice President of Communications and Marketing, Sally Badoud, is underway. We welcome her to F&M.
Warm regards,
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F&M To Honor Troy Vincent as
2026 Commencement Speaker
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Troy Vincent, NFL executive and former cornerback, will share his story with F&M’s Class of 2026 as speaker at the College’s Commencement on May 9. Vincent had a football career that spanned 15 years, including eight exceptional seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, but it’s his legacy beyond football that means the most to him.
At the ceremony, Vincent will receive an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters — alongside three other extraordinary honorees — in recognition of his transformational leadership and remarkable life of service that spans professional excellence in the NFL and devoted humanitarian work. Commencement will take place on Saturday, May 9.
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Brett Harwood ’71 Makes $1 Million Gift to Support Jewish Life, Student Experience
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Brett Harwood ’71, a former Trustee and a constant presence at Diplomats’ gatherings from New York to Florida, has long considered F&M his highest philanthropic priority. His latest $1 million gift supports a wide array of initiatives centered on Jewish life, with designations spanning student life, academics, career preparation and networking, and the College’s efforts to ensure enrolled students have the resources and support necessary to successfully earn their Franklin & Marshall degree.
“Change — and the philanthropy that makes it possible — doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It has to be timely, and it has to be appropriate,” said Harwood.
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An AI Certificate to Prepare World-Ready Leaders
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Franklin & Marshall College has announced a distinctive interdisciplinary certificate to empower students to successfully lead and thrive in a rapidly evolving world. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Liberal Arts Certificate will equip students with ethical judgment, critical thinking, wisdom, and technical proficiency in a moment when powerful technological, economic, and societal changes are reshaping how we live and work.
“Our AI and the Liberal Arts certificate empowers students to ask the hard, timely questions about AI,” said Jason "Willie" Wilson, assistant professor of computer science. “Asking these questions requires combining a practical, hands-on understanding of the technology with the skills to critically analyze the implications for people, the way we learn, and the way our society functions.”
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Powering Innovation: Inside F&M’s Campus Supercomputer
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The innovative technology of a High-Performance Computing (HPC) cluster can be found right here at Franklin & Marshall. 1,600 computer processors combine power to accelerate discovery, uncovering results within days — not months. This supercomputer empowers researchers and inspires collaboration between faculty and curious students eager to gain hands-on experience in cutting edge-research.
“It’s very rare for even the most highly selective liberal arts schools to have a shared campus cluster,” said Jason Brooks, director of research computer services. “We were awarded the HPC cluster because of the vast scope of our student and faculty research.”
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F&M Alumnae Power Students’ Future Success in Finance
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A recent gift from two F&M leaders provides annual funding for hands-on career experiences. Susan Hovanec and Kathy Quick Rosa, both graduates of the Class of 1992, established the Careers in Finance Exploration Fund with a $100,000 gift that provides opportunities for F&M students to develop the skills to secure internships and entry-level finance roles.
The first program supported by this gift was a full-day “Training the Streets” event on Feb. 1 for 100 F&M students. Led by Yoni Jacobs, a chief investment officer, this finance workshop equipped students with specialized technical skills, including financial statement analysis and corporate valuation, to complement their liberal arts education.
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Sally Badoud Joins F&M as Vice President for Communications and Marketing
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Sally Badoud began as F&M’s new vice president for communications and marketing Feb. 9. She brings 25 years of experience in branding, communications, design, marketing and leadership within higher education. Most recently, Badoud served as associate vice president for enrollment marketing and creative services at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where she contributed to record enrollment in fall 2025.
“I am truly honored and beyond thrilled to join Franklin & Marshall College,” Badoud said. “F&M's reputation for academic excellence, close faculty-student engagement and commitment to developing thoughtful, engaged citizens makes this an especially meaningful opportunity. I'm excited to work alongside such a dedicated community in support of the College's mission.”
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Carrie Rampp Named to Internet2 InCommon
Steering Committee
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Carrie Rampp, F&M’s vice president and chief information officer, was appointed to the InCommon Steering Committee, powered by Internet2 — a nonprofit advanced technology community that serves universities, government agencies, and education networks. InCommon provides research and higher education institutions with specialized tools and strategic guidance for their privacy, trust, and security needs to empower secure collaboration between organizations.
“It’s an honor to represent F&M on the steering committee, which is populated largely by R1 universities. It says a lot about the collective expertise of our staff and faculty,” said Rampp. “It will also allow F&M to play an active role in shaping the future of these technologies and their interplay with higher education.”
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Lillian Basom ’08 and the Vivarium That Sets F&M Apart
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F&M students An Bach, Sarah Chapla, and Thao Nguyen created this film as part of the Motion Picture Production I course during the Fall 2023 semester.
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Franklin & Marshall is one of the only institutions in the country that offers undergraduate students direct access to onsite nonhuman primates, as well as a variety of rodents, reptiles, fish, and invertebrates, through the campus vivarium. The vivarium is a non-invasive behavioral research facility with a research program built around training, enrichment, and animal caretaking.
“There are very few facilities that offer undergraduate students that kind of hands-on, experiential learning right from the moment they step on campus,” said Lillian Basom ’08, director of operations at the vivarium.
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Great Food, Strong Community: Dining at F&M Evolves with Student Tastes
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Enjoy a comforting meal with friends and colleagues. Refuel before class or after practice. Build relationships that define the Franklin & Marshall community. All this and more happens at F&M’s beloved “D-Hall.” Every day, the Restaurants at Ben Franklin — the actual name of the College’s primary dining facility — welcomes hundreds of students, faculty and professional staff.
With Sodexo’s new general manager, John Walker, at the helm, F&M Dining is evolving to offer more diverse menus, foster sustainability, and create an environment of openness and trust with the campus community. “It’s not only a place to get a nutritious meal, but also a welcoming place for building community and social connections,” said Walker.
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