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F&M College names first woman president

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Barbara Altmann has been named Franklin and Marshall College’s 16th president. (Photo courtesy: Franklin and Marshall College)

(Harrisburg) — Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster has named the first woman president in its 231-year history.

Barbara Altmann was confirmed as the college’s 16th president by a unanimous vote from the board of trustees.

Altmann currently serves as provost of Bucknell University. The scholar of French medieval language and literature is slated to begin her tenure at F&M in August.

“As a child of immigrants and a first-generation college student myself, I am honored and inspired to join a college that so beautifully blends the very best traditions of the liberal arts with constant innovations that are preparing students for the fullness of possibility and success in the 21st century,” Altmann said. “I am eager to push ahead with the national momentum that outgoing President Daniel Porterfield has built for broadening access to college for talented young people from all backgrounds. We want to attract the brightest, most motivated students from every corner of the country and around the world.”

Porterfield announced in November he would be leaving his position after this school year to lead a Washington think tank.

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