The National Academy of Sciences recently elected Dorothy Merritts, the Harry W. and Mary B. Huffnagle Professor of Geoscience in Franklin & Marshall College’s Department of Earth and Environment.

Merritts is F&M’s first faculty member ever accepted into the ranks of the prestigious academy, a private, nonprofit society of distinguished scholars that was established in 1863 by an act of Congress signed by President Abraham Lincoln.

NAS is charged with providing independent, objective advice to the nation on matters related to science and technology. On May 2, the academy elected 120 members and 30 international members in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

In honor of Prof. Merritts' exceptional honor, we reached out to alumni to share their memories of working with Dorothy. Read below for some of these reflections, and enjoy some photos, too!

(Tributes coming soon!)