Rihanca Joseph ’28 knew she wanted a college with challenging academics, a campus where she wouldn’t be just a number and a degree program that would set her up for success for a future career in health or medicine. She just didn’t expect to find that place nearly 400 miles from her home in Massachusetts — until a college preparatory program introduced her to Franklin & Marshall.

The program, designed to match high-achieving students with colleges committed to minimizing student debt, brought an F&M admissions counselor to campus to offer interviews to students who had never experienced one before. Joseph prepared carefully. Her research revealed a school that checked nearly every box: a smaller student enrollment, the region and the city of Lancaster, and what she described as the “vibe” of a competitive, private liberal arts environment.

What was supposed to be a 20-minute interview turned into a conversation lasting almost two hours. By the end, Joseph knew she’d be applying to F&M early decision.

She credits her mother for encouraging her to take the leap to a college far from home and for inspiring her interest in health care. Her mother’s work as a licensed nurse practitioner taught her how deeply a medical professional can impact patients’ lives. And a long-standing relationship with her family physician demonstrated another model of compassionate, long-term care. Together, they shaped her goal of pursuing a career focused on the health of others.

When Joseph arrived at F&M, she began finding mentors of her own. A challenging molecular biology course introduced her to Professor of Biology Beckley Davis, whose guidance helped her see the discipline in a new way. As she grappled with the material, Davis made time for regular advising meetings, which soon became a touchpoint in Joseph’s early experience. When he invited students staying on campus over Thanksgiving break to dinner at his home, Joseph took advantage of the offer. His outreach made a difference when the prospect of traveling home and back over the short break proved untenable.

Later, the African American studies and Asian American history courses she took with Associate Professor of American Studies Carla Willard helped her to appreciate that the liberal arts allows her to explore areas of study beyond her intended major in public health (biology).

“I realized how much I like learning about multiple BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) points of view when it comes to history within America, especially people we don’t really hear about,” said Joseph.

She also realized that the breadth of subjects she could pursue at F&M wasn’t a guarantee at other colleges and universities.

“My friends who are in state schools only have one thing that they’ve been doing. One of my friends from last year has only been taking science classes. He hasn’t really looked into any [general education courses] because they don’t really have any except for his major,” she said. “[At F&M] I get to try all these classes even though they aren’t mandatory, and I get to try new things even though I never expected to like them.”

Outside the classroom, Joseph has steadily built community through campus leadership. She is an active member of the Black Student Union, where alumni connections made a strong impression. “[In BSU], we create these opportunities to bond together and to meet alumni. I think that’s what really stood out to me the most — how connected the alumni are,” she recalled.

This past October, she had another opportunity to deepen those relationships. “During True Blue Weekend, we invited the alumni back to the Black Student Union,” she said. “They come back, get to interact with us, ask us what’s going on on campus, and just check things out. Having these alumni and people who are connected to the club come back during alumni events where we can tell them how it’s going was interesting to me and made me realize how connected everyone truly is.”

Last year, Joseph also served in Roschel House Senate, and this year she represents the African Caribbean Association in Diplomatic Congress — roles that broadened her understanding of how students help shape campus culture.

This summer, Joseph is earning her EMT certification, an opportunity made possible thanks to summer experience funding from the Pre-Health Rackow-Kaminsky Fellowship and F&M's Center for Career & Professional Development.

As she reflects on her path so far, Joseph remains grounded in the opportunity that brought her to F&M — and thinks about the donors who have made her journey possible. “I’m
grateful for the scholarship and how it has alleviated some of the costs [of college],” she said. “Without that, I wouldn’t have met the people I know today.”

 

“I’m grateful for the scholarship.”

We’re dedicated to making an F&M education affordable for all. Discover how, by offering need-based and merit-based financial aid, we’re able to welcome talented students like Rihanca Joseph ’28. “I’m grateful for the scholarship and how it has alleviated some of the costs [of college],” she said. “Without that, I wouldn’t have met the people I know today.”

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