F&M alumnus brings over 15 years of experience in education, leadership development, and community engagement to new role at the College

Franklin & Marshall College has appointed Matt Thomas '10 as Executive Director of the Ware Institute for Civic Engagement. Thomas, an F&M alumnus and longtime member of the College community, will provide strategic leadership for the Ware Institute as it evolves into an integrated hub connecting co-curricular service and leadership programs with a growing portfolio of community-based learning.

Matt Thomas '10, Executive Director of the Ware Institute for Civic Engagement

About the Executive Directorship

As Executive Director, Thomas will work in close partnership with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community organizations to build a more coordinated, visible, and impactful approach to civic engagement at F&M. 

“Matt has demonstrated a genuine commitment to building the kind of engaged, reciprocal relationships between F&M and Lancaster that define the best of civic education,” said Drew Stelljes, Vice President for Student Affairs. “He understands both the aspirations of our students and the needs of our community partners. We are confident he will lead the Ware Institute to new heights as a national model for campus–community collaboration.”

The appointment reflects the College's renewed commitment to deepening its relationships with the Lancaster community and ensuring that every student has meaningful opportunities to connect their education with civic life.

“Lancaster is not just where F&M is located. The city is an essential partner in how our students engage, contribute, learn, and lead,” said F&M President Andrew Rich. “We are committed to building deeper relationships with the local community, grounded in respect, shared purpose, and real collaboration. Matt’s leadership will help us connect more of our work to the life of this community and ensure that more members of the F&M community have the opportunity to engage meaningfully with Lancaster.”

Key priorities for the Ware Institute under Thomas’s leadership include:

• Strengthening the visibility and accessibility of civic engagement across campus
• Supporting and connecting the community-centered work already being led by faculty, staff, and students
• Deepening reciprocal partnerships with Lancaster organizations
• Ensuring leadership development remains foundational to the Ware Institute’s mission
• Expanding opportunities for every student to engage meaningfully with the Lancaster community

A Career Built on Leadership and Community

Thomas brings nearly two decades of experience in education, leadership development, and community-based programming. Many in the F&M community know him through his recent role as Director of Leadership Education, where he strengthened leadership programming and expanded opportunities for students to connect their learning with meaningful community engagement.

Before returning to F&M, Thomas served as Continuing Education Manager at Longwood Gardens, where he developed and led public-facing educational initiatives. Earlier in his career, he worked as a social studies teacher and academic coach, and as an educator and graduate fellow at the Walking Mountains Science Center in Colorado. His professional journey in education began with roles focused on science and environmental learning, including positions at the Science Museum of Long Island and Ferry Beach Ecology School.

Thomas holds a Master of Arts in Science Education from the University of Northern Colorado and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, cum laude, from Franklin & Marshall College.

“I am deeply honored to step into this role and to help realize the Ware Institute’s potential as a true civic hub for F&M and Lancaster,” said Thomas. “The connections between our campus and this city are some of the most powerful learning experiences our students can have. I look forward to working alongside our community partners, faculty, and students to make those connections more visible, more accessible, and more transformative for everyone involved.”

About the Ware Institute for Civic Engagement

The Ware Institute for Civic Engagement at Franklin & Marshall College serves as the College’s hub for service, leadership, and community-based learning. Through partnerships with local organizations and a robust portfolio of co-curricular and academic programs, the Ware Institute connects students’ education with the civic life of the Lancaster community and prepares them for a lifetime of engaged citizenship.

Explore the Ware Institute »