F&M Stories
Your Core is 'The Source of Your Passion,' Speaker Tells Graduates
Franklin & Marshall College alumna Dr. Rahel Nardos '97, director of global health for Oregon Health & Science University's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, offered graduates at F&M's May 12 Commencement a perspective on her experiences growing up poor in Ethiopia.
"They were responsible for making me who I am today, what I chose to care about, how I define success, and how hard I am willing to work for it," said Nardos, who supports a women's health program in sub-Saharan Africa."What experiences shape your internal compass? What speaks to you at your core? Take time to find the answers to these questions," she told the Class of 2019. "They will be the source of your passion, your fulfillment and your resilience in the face of obstacles."
Robed in black, 540 students — including 94 international students from 28 countries and 97 first-generation students, crossed Hartman Green on a bright, blue, breezy day to ascend the stage where F&M President Barbara Altmann presented the graduates with their hard-earned baccalaureates.
View the highlights of a day that celebrated achievement:
Related Articles
September 17, 2025
‘My Magical Summer in Bath’: Junior Shares U.K. Study Experience
Eleanor Metz '27 did more than study Roman history this summer. She lived it in the 18th-century city of Bath – one of England’s most significant cultural sites – through F&M’s Advanced Studies in England program.
September 15, 2025
Diplomats Share True Blue Wisdom
We asked our alumni what advice they would share with their first-year selves, and their timeless words of wisdom will resonate with every generation of Diplomats.
September 12, 2025
Leadership the Diplomat Way
Today’s F&M Diplomats become tomorrow’s leaders. F&M President Andy Rich joined Caroline Riegel '26, student body president, for a discussion about student leadership to commence the College's fall Common Hour series Sept. 11.