F&M Stories

Cynthia C. Gorman has been appointed to serve as Franklin & Marshall's vice president for college advancement. Gorman, who has been serving as interim vice president since May, begins her duties immediately.

Reporting to the president as a member of F&M's senior staff, she will oversee all areas of advancement, including campaign planning, major gifts, gift planning, annual giving and alumni relations, parent giving, corporate and foundation giving and athletic advancement. Gorman also will provide support for the efforts of the College's many volunteer partners, including the Trustee External Engagement Committee, the Alumni Association Board, Leadership Council, Parents Council, Diplomat Athletic Club and Board of Visitors.

Gorman has been F&M's associate vice president for college advancement since October 2016. She was named vice president after a highly competitive national search in conjunction with consultants at the Aspen Leadership Group.

In her role as associate vice president, Gorman was responsible for campaign planning and management of the development team during both the pre-public and public phases of the Now to Next campaign, which concluded June 30 and raised more than $20 million over its $200 million goal, the largest comprehensive campaign in Franklin & Marshall history.

"The Now to Next campaign greatly enhanced and enlarged the picture for Franklin & Marshall's future. While the extraordinary support of our donors was critical, the confidence and determination of Cynthia and her team also were vitally important," said President Barbara Altmann. "She continued to demonstrate her leadership as interim vice president. As we now begin implementation of the College's strategic plan and plan for the next comprehensive campaign to support it, she is the natural choice to lead those efforts."

Gorman said, "As a graduate of a liberal arts college, I am passionate about the extraordinary role the liberal arts plays in the world— educating young people to serve others, to be well-rounded citizens, and to lead successful careers and meaningful lives. I've discovered that the F&M community is a remarkably vibrant, innovative and passionate place. As President Altmann often says, 'The world needs Diplomats,' and I'm looking forward to working with the entire Advancement team and our colleagues across campus to make sure Franklin & Marshall provides them."

Gorman has over three decades of experience in fundraising and advancement work.

Gorman's career has included work in health care and social services, as well as higher education. She has served as vice president for development at Family Service League in Long Island and was vice president for development at New York Institute of Technology. Prior to that, she spent 11 years in various advancement positions at Long Island University, the last several as the associate vice president for capital campaigns and planned giving. Her work helped to build LIU into one of the nation's largest private universities.

Gorman is a native Pennsylvanian who earned her bachelor of arts degree at Muhlenberg College, her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Stony Brook University, and her master's degree from the University of Warwick in England. She called her decision to come to Franklin & Marshall in 2016 "a return to my roots."

Gorman also served in leadership roles at VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, as well as Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. She began her development career as director of development for a York, Pa., social-service organization.