Franklin & Marshall College Trustee Mohammed Anjarwala ’99 and his wife, Rabia, recently committed significant additional funds to the Anjarwala Endowed Scholarship, which they established in 2016. For more than 25 years, they’ve made F&M a philanthropic priority to reflect how critical the College and its community have been in Anjarwala’s life and to support the students who follow in his footsteps.

“I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to F&M. My introduction and admittance to the College was one of my life’s pivotal moments. People gave selflessly to me at a time when I needed it. They saw something that I perhaps didn't even realize myself — and it changed the arc of my life,” Anjarwala shared. “I have deep gratitude and an obligation to make sure that story and that path is possible for others.”

“I am deeply grateful to Mohammed and Rabia for their vision, leadership, and generous support for endowed financial aid, one of our most important priorities,” said President Andrew Rich. “Their generosity allows Franklin & Marshall to continue recruiting, enrolling, and developing the world’s most talented students, ensuring our life-changing education is accessible for all families, regardless of financial means.”

Anjarwala grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, where he excelled in school. Early in his senior year, his secondary school received a visit from F&M’s former Dean of Admission Peter Van Buskirk, who was eager to meet promising students. An administrator who respected the College’s reputation happened to catch Anjarwala during a free period and encouraged him to chat with the dean.

What was supposed to be a quick conversation lasted more than 30 minutes. As they finished their meeting, Van Buskirk encouraged Anjarwala to apply. That serendipitous encounter led to an acceptance and full scholarship — a life-changing event and something he hadn’t considered possible.

"There are consequential points in your life that change the trajectory of your future. My arrival at F&M was one of those moments."

- Mohammed Anjarwala ’99

Months later, his first day at Franklin & Marshall would also be his first day in the United States. Everything the 17-year-old knew about the country was gleaned from television and movies.

F&M staff arrived in passenger vans to pick up Anjarwala and other international students from John F. Kennedy International Airport. Over the next few hours’ drive, he saw some things he expected — towering skyscrapers and massive highways as the group left New York — and some he did not, including a few Amish horses and buggies as they entered Lancaster County. He remembers Ben Franklin Hall resident assistant John Galdieri ’97 helping with his two suitcases (all he had brought from Pakistan) and enthusiastically giving Anjarwala the nickname “Mo,” a name his family and closest friends use to this day.

“Those early interactions still bring a smile to my face,” Anjarwala recalled. “The energy, friendliness, and excitement were incredibly welcoming. There are consequential points in your life that change the trajectory of your future. My arrival at F&M was one of those moments.”

He was adept at math and always planned to pursue the discipline at F&M. A course with Emeritus Professor William Whitesell, the first of many Anjarwala would take with the professor, opened his eyes to the world of economics and to the impact dedicated faculty have on their students. Whitesell would facilitate long conversations on finance, banking, and monetary policy, often in his home, over tea with his students. Anjarwala and other international students would often bring tea from their home countries to those meetings, building connections that surpassed classroom walls — an experience he can only imagine taking place at a small college like F&M.

“The liberal arts experience in that way is truly unique and quintessentially American. In many other parts of the world, you're shepherded into a pre-professional arena quite early, and in my opinion, too early,” said Anjarwala, reflecting on the experience he expected to have after secondary school. “It’s that experience of reading broadly, critical reasoning and analysis, learning to write, and learning to speak in a convincing fashion to make your case. Those are life skills that prove incredibly valuable.”

After graduation, Anjarwala took a job in Chicago to work in consulting before transitioning to Boston for a role in private equity and his introduction to the world of investing. A few years later, he attended Harvard Business School, where he earned his MBA. Anjarwala worked for a year at a small investment firm before he was recruited to join Advent, which has since grown into one of the world’s largest and most successful private equity firms in the world, with more than $90 billion in assets under management. Over the next two decades, he managed larger teams and took on increasingly strategic roles, culminating as a partner.

“I love the act of investing, of getting to know new businesses and industries, really getting to the crux of why a product or service succeeds in the market,” he shared. “But over time, what has brought me the greatest joy is working with a team of colleagues who I respect and accomplishing an important goal together as a team. I love working with young, talented, energetic teams and helping them succeed together.”

This spring, he stepped away from that role to plan for the launch of his own firm next year. It’s a significant transition, but one he is excited about thanks to his industry experience and the foundation he built as an undergraduate at Franklin & Marshall. That foundation, and the opportunities he was given, inspire the generosity that he and Rabia express today through their support for the Anjarwala Endowed Scholarship.