F&M Stories

Home / Commencement / Commencement Archive / Commencement 2021 / Citations Remarks / Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa: Beverly "Peggy" Steinman

Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa: Beverly "Peggy" Steinman

Beverly “Peggy” Steinman is a pillar of the Lancaster community, having served more than 50 years as a community leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist to guide the city’s successful revitalization. She currently serves as co-chair of the Steinman Foundation, which has contributed $90 million to more than 330 local organizations over the past 65 years. 

Steinman, a former member of Franklin & Marshall’s Board of Trustees, worked closely with the College to develop and fund a pilot program that provides paid, yearlong internships for F&M students partnered with local nonprofits. Now in its eighth year, this initiative has hired 178 students who have served tens of thousands of hours at 94 community organizations, including Bench Mark, ASSETS, Attollo, and the Partnership for Public Health. She served F&M with distinction for five years, helping the College to navigate a rapidly evolving national landscape for higher education institutions. 

She has contributed deeply to her family legacy of Steinman Enterprises, now Steinman Communications. In addition to her philanthropic leadership, Steinman forged a career as a successful businesswoman in an era when few women did so. She created her own business when she realized that there was a market in Lancaster for the latest trends and fashions that were typically found in New York. 

Steinman also served as a director of the School Lane Hills Corporation and as board chair for LNP Media Group Inc., Lancaster Farming Inc., and Lancaster County Weeklies Inc. She is beloved and deeply respected in Lancaster as a “no-nonsense” leader, entrepreneur, and shrewd strategist who always puts the best interests of the community first. 

Steinman’s leadership has extended well beyond Lancaster. In 1970, former President Richard Nixon invited her to serve as co-chair in the former U.S. Assay Commission, which supervised currency standards and specifications. She is a member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America and The Society of Cincinnati. A notable leader in the equine industry, Steinman has made extraordinary contributions to the development of her favorite sport, horse racing. She was a founding member and first female board member of the National Steeplechase Association and currently serves as board Chair. Steinman was a trustee of the National Museum of Racing in Saratoga and president of the Carolina Cup Racing Association in Camden, S.C. In 2010, the Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center at Virginia Tech honored her with its distinguished service award in recognition of her generosity and service. She continues to serve as president of the center’s council. 

Beverly Steinman, for your commitment to Lancaster as community leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist; for your devotion to academic institutions such as Franklin & Marshall College and their students; and for your outstanding leadership and service locally and nationally, Franklin & Marshall College bestows upon you the Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters.

Related Articles

September 4, 2025

F&M Welcomes New Board Members

Franklin & Marshall College is pleased to welcome three new members to its Board of Trustees: Scott A. Sommer ’85, Christopher W. Rile ’91, and Yusong “Sebastian” Deng ’22. The Board of Trustees plays a vital role in guiding the College’s mission and ensuring that F&M continues to thrive for generations to come. Its newest members are all alumni whose deep connection to the College and impressive professional accomplishments will strengthen the Board’s leadership and service to the F&M community.

September 4, 2025

F&M Provost On What it Means to be a Diplomat

Class of 1992 alumna Sunita Gupta Kramer has returned to F&M as provost and dean of the faculty. Since beginning her new role in July, Kramer has reconnected with familiar places and traditions while considering how F&M has changed—and how it will continue to evolve.

September 4, 2025

2025 Graduate and Dedicated Diplomat is Conference Finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year

A Diplomat athlete’s reach extends beyond their impact on scoreboards and win-loss records. Kennedy Wilburn ’25 recently was named one of two Centennial Conference nominees for the NCAA's prestigious Woman of the Year Award.