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
March 4, 2026
A Peek Behind the Stacks: A Student’s Role in the College Library
Learning by doing is a hallmark of the Diplomat experience. For Abby Jones ’28, this philosophy comes to life at the College Library in a role that blends her love of reading, writing, and stories. “I’ve always loved libraries, and was excited to step into a job where I’d get to work with a lot of the books in a more hands-on way,” she said.
March 2, 2026
[Video] Thinkers, Doers, Diplomats: Maj. Gen. Richard P. Mills ’72 on the Spirit of Service
For Maj. Gen. Richard P. Mills ’72, an F&M education was the launchpad for a storied military career and a lifelong journey of discovery. As he watches today’s Diplomats walking the same paths he once did, Mills sees a familiar pilgrimage toward a future of influential leadership and engaged citizenship.
February 26, 2026
Carrying a Torch for Inorganic Chemistry
While his uncle was among thousands chosen to carry the Olympic torch to the Milano Cortina Winter Games, Davide Lionetti was in the classroom, enlightening his students about processes of inorganic chemistry