Convocation 2023
In Honor of the Class of 2027 & Transfer Students
ORDER of EVENTS
Procession*
Convocation Procession 2023 Premiere
Convocation Brass
Welcome
Kim Armstrong | College Marshal and Professor of Spanish & Linguistics
Invocation
Joseph E. Pritchett | Director of Faith and Meaning
Presentation of the Class of 2027
Hillen Grason | Dean of Admission
Acceptance of the Class of 2027
Mary Osirim | Interim Provost and Dean of Faculty
Convocation Address
Jennifer Redmann | Department Chair of German, Russian & East Asian Languages (Chinese, Japanese), Professor of German and the 2022 Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching recipient
College House Recognition & Pledge
Drew Stelljes | Vice President of Student Affairs
The Alma Mater*
Reece Chang ’24 | tenor (Major: Music)
Yasmin Nicholas ’24 | conductor (Joint Major: German Language & Culture and Mathematics Minor: Music Performance)
President’s Remarks
Barbara K. Altmann, Ph.D. | President of the College and Professor of French
View live captioning and translation services
College Houses
In Order of Recognition
Roschel College House
- Jorge Mena-Ali | Assistant Dean of Faculty Diversity Initiatives and House Don for Roschel College
- Courtnee N. Jordan-Cox | Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Roschel College House Dean
- Aryaa Ogale ’24 | Consul, Roschel College House Senate
Brooks College House
- Alexis Q. Castor | Shirley Watkins Steinman Professor of Classics, Department Chair of Classics, Brooks College House Don
- Jedrek T. Dineros | Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Brooks College House Dean
- Juliette Jerome ’26 | President, Brooks College House Congress
Weis College House
- Dorothy J. Merritts | Harry W. & Mary B. Huffnagle Professor of Geosciences, Weis College House Don
- Melissa S. Giess | Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Weis College House Dean
- Ben Schmidt ’25 | Chair, Weis College House Assembly of Peers
Ware College House
- Justin B. Hopkins | Assistant Director of the Writing Center and Senior Teaching Professor of English, Ware College House Don
- Shuai Shao | Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Ware College House Dean
- Kiernan Keller ’26 | Prime Minister, Ware College House Parliament
Bonchek College House
- Christine P. Piro | Associate Professor of Chemistry, Bonchek College House Don
- Beth Proffitt | Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Bonchek College House Dean
- Amaya McIntyre-Taylor ’25 | Chancellor, Bonchek College House Congress
Convocation Marshals
College Marshal
Kim Armstrong | Professor of Spanish & Linguistics
Faculty Marshals
Ryan Trainor | Associate Professor of Physics
Mark R. Villegas | Associate Professor of American Studies
Student Marshals
Gretchen E. Meyers | Professor of Classics
Pamela S. Vail | Professor of Dance
Traditions & Symbols
Alumni Association Convocation Window
The stained glass window was commissioned by the Alumni Association in 1998 and illustrates
Franklin & Marshall’s commitment to enlightened intellectual inquiry. The window depicts
our namesakes, Benjamin Franklin and John Marshall, and our moto, Lux et Lex. Lux
is the Latin word for light and symbolizes the search for knowledge and truth.
Lex means law and represents the establishment of a permanent, rational order of society.
It is our hope that the Convocation Window wil be a constant reminder of each student’s
responsibility to seek knowledge from each member of our community, and to use it
to create a better community and a better world.
The College Mace
The maple and poplar College Mace was designed by Professor Edmund Whiting, chair
of the Department of Art at Franklin & Marshall College, in 1967–68 and created by
J.E. Brubaker Pattern Works, formerly of Landisville, Pa. The mace is a replica of
the four-spired tower of Old Main, one of the oldest buildings on campus.
Inside the mace is a piece of an oak beam taken from the North Queen Street building
where Franklin College established its quarters in 1788, less than a year after its
founding. Since it was presented to the College by the Alumni Association at Franklin
& Marshall’s 189th Commencement on Sunday, June 11, 1967, the mace has become an official
emblem of the College at ceremonial events.
Music
Alma Mater
