African American Alumni Council
About the AAAC
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.
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
The Black Community & Faith: Past, Present and the Future
Election 2020: The Impact and Influence of F&M Black Alumni
Session 2: Mental Health in the Age of Coronavirus and Protests
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
Dr. Cherise Hamblin Murphy '03 – Vice Chair
Shadoe Tarver '10 – Member
Michelle Russell Flatt '99 - Member
Executive Members at Large
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
Shawn Jenkins '10
Ricardo Rivers '93
H. Art Taylor '80
The Sydney N. Bridgett '51 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.
2023 Recipients
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
Past Recipients
2022
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
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
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
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
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
LeRoy Pernell '71 - Educator
Sharon Myrtice Johnson '82 - Retired, Manager of Sales
Hilary Green '99 - Educator
Marilise Hyacinth '03 - Psychiatrist
2016
Sylvester Cox '80 - Judge
Ricardo Rivers '93 - Business Executive
Nick Peterson '02 - Pastor
2015
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
Horace Madison '88 - Entrepreneur
Dr. Donnell Butler '95 - Educator
Joaquim Hamilton '06 - Educator
2013
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
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!
