Dear F&M Community,
Today, I am pleased to announce the Venture and Impact Studio, a new entrepreneurship center at F&M. Led by Joaquin Villarreal and supported by a range of faculty, this initiative empowers students to build skills in entrepreneurship through hands-on experience. My sincere thanks to alumni entrepreneurs Veronica Beard, Bob Freedman, Dean Hatton, and Nick and Jordan Nicholas for their investments, which make launching this center in the 2026-2027 academic year possible.
We are also celebrating a record-breaking fundraising year. Thank you to everyone—alumni, parents, friends, and foundations—for your support in improving the student experience and positioning the College to thrive.
Finally, we feature a story about our new Board Chair, Matt DesChamps, who began in his role on July 1. I am excited to be partnering with him as we chart F&M’s next chapter.
Wishing you all a wonderful end to the summer.
Warm Regards,
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Announcing F&M’s New Entrepreneurship Center: The Venture and Impact Studio
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Students in every discipline and field of study will soon experience greater opportunities to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and practice hands-on learning, working alongside faculty mentors and Lancaster partners. F&M's new Venture and Impact Studio pilot is possible thanks to generous alumni Veronica Beard ’94, Robert L. Freedman ’70, Dean Hatton ’82, Nicholas G. Nicholas ’70, P’07, and Jordan Nicholas ’07.
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F&M Celebrates Record-Breaking Year of Philanthropy
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Alumni, parents, foundations, and friends committed $43.6 million in support of F&M’s students, faculty, programs, and endowment during the 2026 fiscal year, which concluded on June 30. The extraordinary display of generosity eclipses the previous record by nearly $12.5 million, a 40% increase.
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A Diplomat’s Return to Lead: Matt DesChamps ’93, P’28 Begins Service as Board Chair
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Some alumni leave campus with fond memories. Others leave with a lifelong commitment. Since earning his F&M degree in 1993, Matt DesChamps has spent more than three decades giving back to the College — as a volunteer, mentor, fundraiser, trustee, and advocate. Now, that enduring commitment has brought him to a new role: chair of F&M's Board of Trustees.
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ABC27 News Features F&M Interns Ensuring Safe River Recreation in Lancaster
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F&M students Jesse Sippl ’28 and Julia Walsh ’28 were featured on ABC27 News for their summer internships with Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the ecological health of the Susquehanna River watershed and the Chesapeake Bay. The duo coordinates community efforts and collects weekly water samples at Lancaster-based Susquehanna River tributaries, a process that helps determine whether the sample sites are safe for swimming, kayaking, fishing, and other recreational activity.
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State Grants Provide $2.8 Million for Campus
Construction Projects
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Franklin & Marshall is the recipient of four Pennsylvania grants totaling nearly $3 million to support construction and infrastructure projects on and adjacent to campus. The funds match philanthropic support for the Mehlman Center for Strength, Conditioning, Wellness, and Performance and will support its construction while also redesigning parts of Harrisburg Avenue to prioritize pedestrian and vehicle safety.
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F&M Students Explore Careers in Medicine Through New Lancaster General Health Partnership
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A new partnership with Lancaster General Health is providing F&M students interested in careers in medicine with valuable opportunities to observe healthcare professionals in practice and gain a deeper understanding of patient care.
This past spring, 14 students, ranging from first-year students to seniors, participated in a pilot shadowing program with Lancaster General Health Family Medicine residents and physicians. Each student spent up to eight hours observing patient visits and clinical operations, gaining firsthand exposure to the realities of medical practice.
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F&M Grad Nets Sports Medicine Fellowship with NY Knicks
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F&M alumna Dr. Nicole Rynecki Baker ’15 played a role in the Knicks’ recent NBA title as a sports medicine fellow at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery. Baker, a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon, specializes in both arthroscopic and open surgical procedures to treat sports-related injuries of the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee, helping athletes of all levels return safely to peak performance.
“The moment the final buzzer sounded and the realization set in that the team had accomplished its goal is something I will never forget,” Baker said of the championship. “Seeing the culmination of so much hard work and sacrifice from so many people was both inspiring and humbling.”
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F&M Announces Class of 2026 Hall of Fame
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The F&M Athletic Department announced seven inductees for its 2026 Hall of Fame Class:
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- Jay Baumgardner '73 (Football & Baseball)
- Steve Growney '82 (Men's Lacrosse)
- Tina Stathis Newman '89 (Women's Lacrosse)
- Paulette Cutruzzula Dreher '10 (Women's Lacrosse & Field Hockey)
- Nicole Morano '11 (Volleyball)
- Dave Rosenfeld '15 (Men's Soccer)
- Rick Durso '16 (Wrestling)
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These seven individuals will be formally inducted into the F&M Hall of Fame as a part of the College's True Blue Weekend festivities later this fall. The official Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set for Friday, Oct. 23, at 5 pm.
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