F&M Stories

Home / Commencement / Commencement Archive / Commencement 2019 / Franklin & Marshall – Your Core is 'The Source of Your Passion,' Speaker Tells Graduates

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

June 8, 2026

Franklin & Marshall College Names Bryan Stinchfield Inaugural Executive Director of the Mehlman Leadership and Performance Institute

Leader in government, higher education, and emerging technology returns to F&M to help launch signature cohort-based initiative focused on leadership, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement.

June 8, 2026

Careers Beyond Borders: A Diplomat’s Path to International Relations

Julianna Marton ’25 always knew exactly where she was headed: around the world. After graduating from F&M, she followed this dream to Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). “I think if my first-year self could see me now, she would be very impressed and proud that I stayed on this path, and that I’ve only grown more passionate about it,” she said.

June 5, 2026

Colin Presby ’06 Brews Up Beverage Career

Being a brewmaster has taken Colin Presby ’06 around the globe – he even oversaw Carnival Cruise line’s first on-board brewery in 2016. He pivoted to an adjacent career in distilling at Mount Hope Winery & Estate, home to the Renaissance Faire.