Franklin & Marshall's Class of 2013 faces challenges in the 21st century that will demand men and women be agents of change for the nation, and the world, to progress, Melanne S. Verveer said during the College's Commencement ceremony May 11.

Verveer, who from 2009 to 2012 served as the United States' first ambassador-at-large for global women's issues, noted in her Commencement address that just in the two decades since F&M's 590 graduating participants were born, immense progress in technology, science and medicine has been made. However, modern society continues to struggle with issues such as gender inequity, violence and depletion of natural resources, she said.

"With all the progress we have made, the toughest challenge remains to transform human behavior," she said. "History also tells us that we must try to reconcile our differences, to create opportunities, to engage in service no matter what profession we pursue, to empower others who are powerless, to be change-makers.

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2013 Commencement Address by Melanne Verveer

Melanne Verveer, the first U.S. ambassador-at-large for global women's issues, spoke at the Commencement ceremony for Franklin & Marshall College's Class of 2013.