Franklin & Marshall College Leadership

Forward, Together

We were founded in 1787, at the birth of a new republic. Our spirit is the spirit of that astonishing moment — optimistic and pragmatic, inspired and humble, daring and principled. It is a spirit that says we see something bright on the horizon. And together, we go forward.

President’s Welcome

Franklin & Marshall offers a tremendous combination of the venerable and the contemporary. Our college is one of the oldest in the country, founded in 1787, in the early years of the nation. But it also has developed a wealth of programs and initiatives designed to launch our students into 21st-century lives of success and significance.

Those talented students, who come to us from across the country and around the world, work side by side with our accomplished faculty in a true liberal arts curriculum, producing research and scholarship of impact. Together, they explore the cutting edge of knowledge, setting new standards of academic excellence in an inclusive, supportive and engaged community that values each student’s individuality.

Our faculty mentors provide students with a personalized education, encouraging them to discover and expand their abilities, exceeding their own expectations. We value the common good and succeed together, working to solve intractable challenges and realize creative potential.

I am humbled and honored to be the president of Franklin & Marshall, an inspiring, nationally recognized liberal arts college that sends into the world the kind of citizens and leaders it most needs: confident, hard-working and adaptable problem solvers.

Barbara K. Altmann, Ph.D.

President Barbara K. Altmann

Presidential Search

Since 1787, Franklin & Marshall College has cultivated forward-thinking leaders who contribute meaningfully to their occupations, their communities, and the world. Now, the Board of Trustees builds upon this legacy with a national search for F&M’s 17th president.

Learn more »

Our Leadership Team

Office of the President

Board of Trustees

Our History & Our Future

Founded in 1787

Franklin & Marshall College is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the United States. Its roots go back to Franklin College, founded in 1787 with a generous financial contribution from Benjamin Franklin.

L&AD: Leveraging Excellence, Accelerating Discovery

L&AD is F&M’s bold and strategic five-year plan (2022-2027). It is so named to capture not only our community’s ambitions for the College, but also, with its ampersand, F&M’s mission, identity, inclusivity, and core values. The plan was created with the input of hundreds of faculty, staff, students, trustees, and alumni, and is designed to advance the College and secure its position, in perpetuity, among the finest liberal arts institutions in the country.

Centers, Institutes & Initiatives

Franklin & Marshall’s students, faculty and professional staff are dedicated to affecting positive, lasting change on campus, in Lancaster, and in the world. To that end, we have created dedicated spaces for those changemakers to gather, develop ideas, and build community around shared goals. Explore those places and discover how they add value to the academic and social experiences of our students.