Dear F&M Community,
Today, I am pleased to announce three extraordinary leaders who will receive honorary degrees this spring: John Fry, who was F&M's 14th president; Susan Eckert, who led the Lancaster County United Way for 25 years; and, MaryAnn Robins, director of the Circle Legacy Center and advocate for Indigenous communities in Lancaster County.
I have come to admire all three honorees since beginning at F&M last July. I congratulate them, with special thanks to John for all he did as a transformational leader at F&M. All three have exceptional legacies as leaders in Lancaster, and it will be a joy to celebrate them at our commencement in May.
We also share news today of new investments in academic programs: A grant from the Alden Trust will help establish a virtual cadaver lab, and a $2.1 million gift from an anonymous donor honors Professor Bob Walter '75 by creating an endowed professorship in geosciences. My sincere thanks to both donors.
There’s much more below. The spring semester is off to a great start.
Warm regards,
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F&M To Honor Three Extraordinary Community Leaders at 2026 Commencement
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Each year at Commencement, F&M awards honorary degrees to recognize individuals whose accomplishments reflect the values of leadership, engagement, and service that F&M seeks to instill in our graduates. This year, we are proud to welcome back John Fry, F&M’s 14th president, in recognition of his visionary leadership and enduring influence on the College, including his role in deepening our engagement with the City of Lancaster.
In that same spirit, we will honor two exceptional Lancaster leaders: Susan Eckert, for her decades of transformative civic leadership and service to families and institutions across the county, and MaryAnn Robins, for her work fostering understanding, dialogue, and healing around Native American history through education and community partnership.
Commencement will take place on Saturday, May 9. Our Commencement speaker and fourth honorary degree recipient will be announced next month.
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Virtual Cadaver Lab to Revolutionize Health Professions Training at F&M
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In this simulated image, a student manipulates an anatomical model to explore human physiology.
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Franklin & Marshall College is set to transform its pre-health and science curriculum thanks to a generous grant from the George I. Alden Trust. The funding will support the development of a state-of-the-art virtual cadaver lab, bringing high-tech, immersive anatomical study to F&M’s campus. The centerpiece of the new lab will be a digital anatomy table, which provides a high-resolution, interactive experience with human physiology.
For decades, F&M has been known nationally as one of the best schools for students planning a career in medicine and health. This investment by the Alden Trust moves us into the next chapter of training for tomorrow’s physicians and health researchers.
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A Landmark Investment in Geosciences: Honoring Professor Robert C. Walter
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A transformative $2.1 million gift from an anonymous donor celebrates Franklin & Marshall’s renowned Department of Earth & Environment and the impact of its esteemed faculty. The gift establishes the Distinguished Professorship of Geosciences in honor of Robert C. Walter, Ph.D., ’75, and creates the Earth & Environment Instrument Support Endowment.
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The gift shines a light on the prolific career of Dr. Earl D. Stage & Mary E. Stage Professor of Geosciences Bob Walter ’75, whose expertise in geochemistry, geochronology, and hydrogeology has not only advanced the field, but also shaped the lives of generations of F&M students.
“Quite truthfully, I was stunned and incredulous,” Walter says of the endowment. “It's such an honor, and it's very humbling... to know that someone recognized the work [necessary] to maintain the high integrity of geosciences and our department as a whole... the fact that it's anonymous [makes it] even more profound.”
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Fraternity & Sorority Life at F&M Builds Community
Across Generations
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On Jan. 13, more than 200 Franklin & Marshall College alumni gathered in New York City to celebrate F&M’s fraternity and sorority life, as well as athletics, at an event hosted by Ken Mehlman ’88, Board Vice Chair and lead donor to the future Mehlman Center for Strength, Conditioning, Wellness & Performance.
Fraternity and sorority life has a remarkable history at F&M, with the oldest fraternity on campus dating back to 1854. Today, Greek life is experiencing a resurgence of interest from students and a renaissance on campus. Fraternities and sororities are becoming places where students find community and belonging and where they can develop themselves as leaders.
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Jim Dicker Begins as F&M’s New Vice President for
College Advancement
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Jim Dicker began as F&M’s new Vice President for College Advancement on Jan. 5. He brings more than 35 years of experience as a leader in philanthropy and advancement and has managed everything from campaign ideation and execution to fundraising and alumni engagement.
“I am thrilled to join the Franklin & Marshall College community and advance the mission of this incredible institution under the leadership of President Rich,” said Dicker. “As a first-generation graduate of a small, private liberal arts college, I know firsthand how this type of education can change the trajectory of a person’s life.”
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F&M Joins Citizens & Scholars Campuswide Immersion
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Franklin & Marshall College has been invited to participate in the Institute for Citizens & Scholars’ Campuswide Immersion (CWI) program. This multi-year partnership connects F&M to a diverse cohort of peer institutions, ranging from Cornell University to Davidson College to Washington and Lee. Together, the cohort will focus on civic learning, constructive dialogue, and engagement across difference. This work naturally builds upon F&M’s longstanding commitment to free inquiry and preparing students for meaningful participation in a democratic society.
Our participation in CWI is an outgrowth of our membership in College Presidents for Civic Preparedness. Supported by leading foundations including ECMC, Knight, Lumina, and Teagle, this effort reflects both the urgency of the moment and the strength of the work already underway at F&M as we continue developing world-ready leaders.
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Professor of Classics Gretchen Meyers Appointed Associate Provost
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Franklin & Marshall Professor of Classics Gretchen Meyers has been appointed Associate Provost for Institutional Planning and Strategy. In her new role, Meyers will lead the Middle States reaccreditation process and the evolution of the Office of Institutional Research toward an integrated institutional effectiveness model.
“This is an exciting moment for F&M, and bringing institutional research into the Provost’s area strengthens the College’s ability to align data, planning, and academic priorities in a more integrated and strategic way,” said Provost Sunita Kramer.
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Join Us for F&M’s Day of Giving Feb. 11
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In just a few weeks, F&M will celebrate our seventh annual Day of Giving — 24 hours dedicated to the College we love. Beginning at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 11, I invite you to join me in supporting our students and the programs that make an F&M education extraordinary. We’ve set an ambitious goal of $350,000, and we need our entire community to help us cross the finish line.
Early giving opens Monday, Feb. 2. Let’s show our collective F&M pride.
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Congratulations to the Franklin & Marshall wrestling team and coaches on a standout performance at the David H. Lehman ’68 F&M Open earlier this month! James Conway delivered an incredible day with a perfect 5‑0 record to become the Diplomats’ first-ever individual champion at the event; 19 more Diplomats achieved at least one victory.
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