Danene Sorace will bring her experience in civic leadership and public service to F&M’s Mehlman Fellows and the broader College community during the 2026-27 academic year.

 

For eight years, Danene Sorace led Lancaster from City Hall. Now she’s bringing that experience to Franklin & Marshall College.

Sorace, who served as Lancaster's 43rd mayor from 2018-2026, has been named the inaugural leader-in-residence at F&M’s Mehlman Leadership and Performance Institute. During the 2026-27 academic year, she will work with the Institute’s 60 Mehlman Fellows, bringing her experience in civic leadership and public service directly to the F&M community.

“As a former mayor, Danene brings a wealth of real-world leadership experience to our students,” said Bryan Stinchfield, executive director of the Mehlman Institute. “She understands that leadership is about listening, collaboration and turning ideas into action.”

“I’m excited to bring my experiences to F&M and to work with students who are beginning to think about the kind of leaders they want to become.”

- Former Mayor Danene Sorace

This fall, Sorace will lead a series of sessions in the Public Service Leadership course taught by Stephen Medvic, F&M’s Honorable and Mrs. John C. Kunkel Professor of Government. On Oct. 9, she will speak to all 60 Mehlman Fellows on the topic of civic leadership—an event open to the entire F&M community. In spring 2027, she will facilitate a variety of leadership-oriented workshops for the benefit of the Mehlman Fellows and all F&M students who wish to attend. 

During her time in City Hall, Sorace led Lancaster with a focus on strong neighborhoods, safe places, a sustainable economy, and sound government. Her administration created a Department of Neighborhood Engagement, won record grants for lead remediation and safer streets, and made historic affordable housing investments.

“Leadership shapes communities. So much is possible when people are willing to take on difficult challenges,” Sorace said. “I’m excited to bring my experiences to F&M and to work with students who are beginning to think about the kind of leaders they want to become.”

The Mehlman Leadership and Performance Institute was established in April 2026 through a three-year, $3.2 million gift from F&M Board Vice Chair Ken Mehlman ’88. It connects leadership development, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and performance science through hands-on learning, drawing on faculty, alumni, Lancaster community partners, and performance experts. At its core is a cohort-based Leadership Fellows program, with 60 members of the Class of 2030 supported by $15,000 annual merit scholarships, faculty mentorship, and co-curricular leadership programming.