F&M Stories

One clear strength of Franklin & Marshall College throughout its 235-year history is its outstanding alumni. Today, its living graduates number more than 29,000 and stretch around the world. They are leaders at every level, committed to successful careers and meaningful lives.

They also are determined to support F&M and one another, continuing their quest for knowledge as they create the way forward together. While graduates of any age are Diplomats Forever, many of those making a difference in their communities are under 40. Several are featured in banners across the Franklin & Marshall campus and on the Diplomats Forever website. In this series, we'll introduce you to a few of our many alumni making a difference.

Leslie Lindeman '13 and Andrew Glennan '13 have always loved music. But in their first year at Franklin & Marshall College, when Lindeman pulled out her violin and Glennan settled behind his cello as new members of the orchestra, they had no idea this mutual love of music would lead them to each other.

After forming a string quartet called "Fellowship of the Strings" with Dr. Alexandra Kerper '13 and Sarah Patterson '13, grabbing frequent dinners together at the dining hall, and enjoying get-togethers in College Row, Lindeman and Glennan started dating. In June 2016, the two tied the knot where it all began: at F&M, in Nevin Chapel.

Since then, Lindeman and Glennan have not forgotten the College and the music program that brought them together. The two remain active in the F&M community and give back in whatever way they can, including by volunteering and making frequent gifts to the College and the Department of Music.

Glennan, who now works in enterprise information technology operations, after double-majoring in music and computer science, composed music for the Fall 2020 orchestra ensembles (which, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were divided into several on- and off-campus pods).

"Whether it's supporting the college financially, participating in recruiting fairs, or writing music for orchestra ensembles, I value the opportunity to give back," he said.

Lindeman, who found her first job after college and later moved into higher education due to F&M connections, echoed this sentiment.

"It's important to give back to F&M because so many people affiliated with the institution invested their time, energy and resources in me," she said. "Through giving back to F&M, I feel like I honor all the people who supported me."

Lindeman's passion for higher education and the value it provides is evident in her work as an academic adviser supporting students interested in transferring from community college to a four-year institution. She noted she could write a book about how F&M prepared her for life beyond college, but most specifically she said the College prepared her for lifelong learning.

"F&M taught me that education and learning is a constant, continual process," she said.

She emphasized that she not only got to perform incredible pieces of music in the F&M orchestra, but volunteer opportunities, such as the Bonchek College House Community Outreach Dinner and the Public Service Summer Institute, helped her begin to recognize, engage with, and appreciate the larger community in which she was living and learning. She also said that, in addition to homework and class time, the Common Hour events and discussions in the College Houses helped her think more independently and critically.

"These are skills that I continue to use and cultivate every day," she said.

It's this diverse academic foundation and lifelong love of learning an F&M liberal arts education fosters that Lindeman and Glennan find so critical to support.

"F&M creates so many amazing opportunities for students to expand their horizons. I gained so many valuable skills," said Glennan.

In particular, he noted that in addition to completing a music honors project under the direction of Professor of Music Emeritus John Carbon, working in the Roschel Performing Arts Center scene shop taught him project management, the ability to build and lead a team, and how to meet schedules and deadlines.

"The chances to write music and gain leadership experience through the music program were so valuable," he said.

F&M's music program, which brought them so much pleasure as undergraduates and alumni, and that introduced them to one another, has proved invaluable to Lindeman and Glennan. And through their continued support for the College, Lindeman and Glennan have proved invaluable to F&M.