When Professor Wendell Ressler joined Franklin & Marshall in 1994 as a visiting faculty member, he may not have anticipated the day, 31 years later, when students, colleagues, friends, and family members would erupt in a round of applause in the final moment of the final meeting of his final class. Clearly, he has come to be deeply appreciated.

Professor Ressler evidently made a good first impression, as he joined the tenure track the next year. Since then, he has shown himself to be an accomplished scholar and a dedicated teacher. As a colleague wrote some years ago, “Wendell has true callings for both teaching and research…. He has a genuine concern for the academic and ethical well-being of his students, and is admirably willing to make himself and his students uncomfortable when it is necessary for their education.”

Professor Ressler was instrumental to the establishment of F&M’s Computer Science Department. From 1988 until his 2004-2007 term as department chair, computer science had been a program housed with mathematics, led by Professor Jay Anderson. Professor Ressler argued that raising the profile of computer science would be vital to F&M’s future as a liberal arts college. He coordinated the external review that recommended establishing a new department with three tenure lines and its own major, after which Provost Ann Steiner and President John Fry formally agreed to commit the necessary resources in 2007.

Professor Ressler has long been a leader in campus sustainability efforts, as well. He has said that “bicycles can save the world,” and has done his part to bring a green future closer with his own daily commute, his work with F&M’s bike loan program, six years with the campus Sustainability Committee, and contributions to the 2012 Campus Sustainability Master Plan — as well as a lovingly tended vegetable garden at home. He was recognized as a “Campus Sustainability Champion” in 2020. 

Fittingly for a number theorist, Ressler retires after a prime number of years of service. His colleagues will miss his integrity, kindness, and wisdom.

Wendell Ressler, Professor of Mathematics

Wendell Ressler, Professor of Mathematics

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