About the AAAC
The African American Alumni Council (AAAC) was founded in 1989.
Council membership is open to all Franklin & Marshall College students and graduates of color. The council likewise encourages supporters of F&M's community of color to join.
The AAAC embraces our collective responsibility to those who led the way among F&M’s community of color, and to those who will follow, both on campus and in the world at large.
Our council engages current students and alumni in a network that connects them to the College and each other through effective rewarding communication, programs and events.
The group also celebrates and promotes the rich history of F&M alumni of color by building upon meaningful traditions and dynamic accomplishments. In addition, the AAAC represents the interests and issues of alumni of color in the conversations that affect the current and future directions and conditions involving the F&M Community.
This year, we celebrate 70 years of African Americans at Franklin & Marshall College. Read more here.
The Pioneers Club
In the fall of 1946, Dr. Sumner Bohee ’50, Franklin & Marshall’s first African American student, began his undergraduate studies at the College. Today, that pioneering spirit lives in students and alumni. The Council has created a giving society, The Pioneers Club, to honor the connection between student and alumni of color and the College. Follow the link to read more about the Pioneers Club
African American Alumni Council Executive Committee
Anthony Ross '91 – Chair
Shadoe Tarver '10 – Vice Chair
Dr. Cherise Hamblin Murphy '03 – Member
Michelle Russell Flatt '99 - Member
Video Spotlights
Bridgett Medal
This honor is presented to Franklin & Marshall alumni of African descent for outstanding achievement in a chosen profession or endeavor. Mr. Bridgett was a dedicated F&M alumnus who, after becoming the second African American graduate of the College, served as a civilian employee of the U.S. Air Force and went on to a distinguished career as an educator in the Lancaster area.
In addition, he was a founding member of the African American Alumni Council and a longtime supporter of the Black Student Union.
Alumni selected for the Bridgett Medal come from diverse personal and professional backgrounds, exerting influence and providing support in a wide range of areas including research studies and publications, leadership development, education, academic achievement, community service and the arts.
Bridgett Medal recipients provide positive examples to which current students can aspire, and they remind fellow alumni of our shared responsibility to ensure the continued vitality of F&M’s community of color.
The AAAC Executive Committee heartily commends the recipients of the Bridgett Medal, and it extends its most sincere thanks for their extraordinary work as well as the equally extraordinary manner in which they represent alumni of Franklin & Marshall College.
Past Recipients
2020 |
Shawn M. Lacy, J.D. '74, Trainer and Entrepreneur |
Gwendolyn Poles-Corker, D.O. '75, Retired Medical Director |
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Lonnie E. Fuller Jr., M.D. '84, Physician |
Kesha S. Moore, Ph.D. '93, Senior researcher and development specialist & associate professor of sociology |
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Kyle A. Ross '94, Business Executive |
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Duran L. Searles '04, Entrepreneur |
Kristy Embrack Searles '05, Entrepreneur |
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Tigist A. Hailu '11, clinical research program manager |
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2019 |
Benjamin P. Bowser, Ph.D. '69 - Author and Retired Educator |
William H. Vanderberg '76 - Retired Educator |
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Yancy D. Edwards, Ph.D. '82 - Educator |
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Keenan L. Smith '94 - Morning News Anchor |
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Christina Watlington, Ph.D. '96 - Clinical Psychologist |
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Intisar "Star" Hamilton '06 - Artist |
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Dorinda L. Foster, J.D. '09 - Control Room Compliance Officer |
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Shadoe Genesis Tarver '10 - Nonprofit Executive |
2018 |
Calvin Baker '65 - Business Executive |
Peter Rogers '69 - Retired Judge |
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Larry Coles '77 - Business Executive |
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Kimberly Fletcher '87 - Nonprofit Executive |
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Michelle Russell '99 - Educator |
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Stephen Tyson, Jr. '07 - Nonprofit Executive |
2017 |
Charles Williams '66 - Partner in Law Firm |
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LeRoy Pernell '71 - Educator |
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Sharon Myrtice Johnson '82 - Retired, Manager of Sales |
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Hilary Green '99 - Educator |
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Marilise Hyacinth '03 - Psychiatrist |
2016 |
Donna Glover '76 - Nonprofit Executive |
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Sylvester Cox '80 - Judge |
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Ricardo Rivers '93 - Business Executive |
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Nick Peterson '02 - Pastor |
2015 |
Dr. Henry Wiggins '55 - Physician |
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Anthony Williams '79 – PA State Senator |
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Patricia Claybrook '84 – CEO, Jindan Cleaning |
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Jinnie Cristerna '94 – Author and Columnist, JET Magazine |
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Randy Wilkins '01 - Filmmaker |
2014 |
Dr. Wanda Austin '75 – CEO, Aerospace |
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Horace Madison '88 - Entrepreneur |
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Dr. Donnell Butler '95 - Educator |
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Joaquim Hamilton '06 - Educator |
2013 |
Rev. Louis Butcher '65 – Clergy |
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Louis Stewart '73 – Educator (posthumous) |
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Donald Marsh '79 – College Basketball Coach |
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Helen Cannady Saulny '83 – Educator |
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Mo Butler '95 – Chief of Staff, U.S. Senator Corey Booker |
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Dr. Cherise Hamblin Murphy '03 – Physician |
2012 |
Antony Mahn '65 - Retired TV Producer |
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Paula Dow '76 – Judge |
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Philip Salmon '88 – Business Executive |
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Dr. Erica Powell '94 – Physician |
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Aaron Bass '01 - Educator |
Graduation Breakfast
Since 1994, the African American Alumni Council has honored graduating seniors with a gift and a ceremony to welcome them officially to the alumni ranks. Graduating seniors join a very special group of more than 600 African and African American alumni. African American Alumni Council members, representatives of the Franklin & Marshall Alumni Association Board and other members of the College community join with family members to celebrate our newest alumni!
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AAAC in the News