African American Alumni Council

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.

About the AAAC

African American Alumni Council Sydney N. Bridgett '51 Awards Breakfast 2019

 

The AAAC engages current students and alumni in a network that connects them to the College and each other through effective, rewarding communication, programs and events. Our council 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.

The AAAC also celebrates and promotes the rich history of F&M alumni of color by building upon meaningful traditions and dynamic accomplishments. In addition, we represent 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.

Programs

Virtual Graduation Reception Program



Members of F&M's African American Alumni Council and College community members welcome the Class of 2021 into the alumni body. This program was recorded on Thursday, May 13, 2021.

Blacks in Technology: Perspectives of F&M Black Alumni

Alumni host an unfettered and information-packed discussion about F&M Black alumni in technology. This program was recorded via Zoom on  March 25, 2021.

Panelists

  • Ibrahim Kamara '15, (Policy Specialist, Google)

  • Randolph Carnegie '74, (Managing Director, Ken-Kor Consulting, Inc.)

  • Horace Facey '19, (Software Engineer, Google),

The Black Community & Faith: Past, Present and the Future

Panelists:

  • The Rev. Leonard Jamison '89, senior pastor, Better Day Ministries, Philadelphia

  • The Rev. Shawn Wilson '94, pastor, New Life Community Church, Clarksburg, Md

  • The Rev. Dawan Buie '10, pastor, Medina United Methodist Church, Medina, Ohio

Moderator:
  • Kaitlin Oliver '16, senior director of admissions, Franklin & Marshall College

Program recorded via Zoom on Feb. 18, 2021.

Election 2020: The Impact and Influence of F&M Black Alumni

Panelists:

  • Shakya Cherry Donaldson '09, Executive Director, 1000 Women Strong

  • Preston Kilgore '14 - Legislative Assistant, Office of San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston

  • Mariama Barry '20 - Field Organizer, PA Democratic Party
Moderator
  • Donnell K. Bailey '17, Tulane University

Session 2: Mental Health in the Age of Coronavirus and Protests

Session 2: Mental Health in the Age of Coronavirus and Protests

F&M Black alumni discuss mental health in the age of Coronavirus and Protests

Panelists:

  • Dr. Jinnie Cristerna '94
  • Dr. Kisha Bazelais '01
  • Dr. Marilise Hyacinth '03
  • Dr. Chad Lennon '03
Moderator:
  • Dr. Cherise Hamblin-Murphy '03
Program recorded via Zoom on January 14, 2021.

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. Read more about the Pioneers Club.

Meet the AAAC Members

African American Alumni Council Executive Committee

Executive Members at Large

Randolph Carnegie '74
Sharon Johnson '82
Patricia Claybrook '84

Ex Officio Members

Alumni Association Board:
Donnell Bailey '17
Aaron Bass '01
Preston Kilgore '14
Ericka Powell '94
Michelle Russell Flatt '00

Board of Trustees

Modia Butler '95
Shawn Jenkins '10
Ricardo Rivers '93
H. Art Taylor '80

The Sydney N. Bridgett '51 Medal

Sydney Bridgett Medal

This honor is presented to Franklin & Marshall alumni of African descent for outstanding achievement in a chosen profession or endeavor. 

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.

About Sydney N. Bridgett '51 

Sydney N. Bridgett '51 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.

 

 

Sydney N. Bridgett ’51 Award Recipients

2024

Augustus D. Pullen ’73
H. Art Taylor, Esq. ’80
Vance Marvin Campbell ’82
Darryl G. Smith, Esq. ’91
Shakya K. Cherry-Donaldson ’09
Danielle A. Sang ’18
George A. Franklin Jr. ’77 (posthumous award) 

2023

David C. Douglas Esq. ’73
Robert F. Paige, Sr. ’83
Keisha Knowles Phelps ’93
Akilah F. Craig, Esq. ’09
Cameron J. Rutledge ’16
Nadia R. Johnson ’17
David W. Giles ’74, posthumously

2022

Frederick Reed '58, Retired Educator

Michael Hyman '79, Non Profit Director

Jeffrey Levy '83, Investment Banking

Robert "Kwesi" Koomson '97, Educator

Adara Combs, Esq. '09, Victim Advocate for the City of Philadelphia

Shakerra "Kerra Don" Lauther '11, Actress and Professional Dancer

2021

Randolph Carnegie ’74,  Tech Consulting Managing Director

Clinton McClain ’83, Program Human Resources - Information & Systems Manager 

Richard W. Rogers Jr. ’90, Company President 

Dr. Chad Lennon ’03, Psychiatrist 

Jessica Dunbar ’13, "Socialpreneur" and Virtual Assistant 

Preston Kilgore ’14,  Legislative Assistant 

Tony Ross ’91, AAAC Chair, Former Company Executive & CEO

2020

Shawn M. Lacy, J.D. '74, Trainer and Entrepreneur 

Gwendolyn Poles-Corker, D.O. '75, Retired Medical Director

Lonnie E. Fuller Jr., M.D. '84, Physician 

Kesha S. Moore, Ph.D. '93, Senior Researcher and Development Specialist & Associate Professor of Sociology

Kyle A. Ross '94, Business Executive 

Duran L. Searles '04, Entrepreneur 

Kristy Embrack Searles '05, Entrepreneur
 
Tigist A. Hailu '11, Clinical Research Program Manager

2019

Benjamin P. Bowser, Ph.D. '69 - Author and Retired Educator
 
William H. Vanderberg '76 - Retired Educator 

Yancy D. Edwards, Ph.D. '82 - Educator

Keenan L. Smith '94 - Morning News Anchor

Christina Watlington, Ph.D. '96 - Clinical Psychologist

Intisar "Star" Hamilton '06 - Artist

Dorinda L. Foster, J.D. '09 -  Control Room Compliance Officer

Shadoe Genesis Tarver '10 - Nonprofit Executive

2018

Calvin Baker '65 - Business Executive 

Peter Rogers '69 - Retired Judge

Larry Coles '77 - Business Executive 

Kimberly Fletcher '87 - Nonprofit Executive

Michelle Russell '99 - Educator 

Stephen Tyson, Jr. '07 - Nonprofit Executive

2017

Charles Williams '66 - Partner in Law Firm

LeRoy Pernell '71 - Educator

Sharon Myrtice Johnson '82 - Retired, Manager of Sales

Hilary Green '99 - Educator

Marilise Hyacinth '03 - Psychiatrist

2016

Donna Glover '76 - Nonprofit Executive 

Sylvester Cox '80 - Judge

Ricardo Rivers '93 - Business Executive

Nick Peterson '02 - Pastor

2015

Dr. Henry Wiggins '55 - Physician

Anthony Williams '79 – PA State Senator

Patricia Claybrook '84 – CEO, Jindan Cleaning

Jinnie Cristerna '94 – Author and Columnist, JET Magazine

Randy Wilkins '01 - Filmmaker

2014

Dr. Wanda Austin '75 – CEO, Aerospace

Horace Madison '88 - Entrepreneur

Dr. Donnell Butler '95 - Educator

Joaquim Hamilton '06 - Educator

2013

Rev. Louis Butcher '65 – Clergy

Louis Stewart '73 – Educator (posthumous)

Donald Marsh '79 – College Basketball Coach

Helen Cannady Saulny '83 – Educator

Mo Butler '95 – Chief of Staff, U.S. Senator Corey Booker

Dr. Cherise Hamblin Murphy '03 – Physician

2012

Antony Mahn '65 - Retired TV Producer

Paula Dow '76 – Judge

Philip Salmon '88 – Business Executive

Dr. Erica Powell '94 – Physician

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!

VIEW THE 2024 GRADUATION BREAKFAST PHOTO ALBUM

A photo of a 2024 senior clapping during the AAAC 2024 Graduation Breakfast