Along N. 13th

In recognition of his work in and around the community, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman ’91 will be awarded an honorary doctorate of humanities and offer remarks at Albright’s May 2020 Commencement ceremony.

A member of the football team, Fetterman earned his Albright bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1991 and a Distinguished Alumnus award in 2016. But it was a life-changing experience with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America that motivated him to quit his job and join AmeriCorps at age 23, leading to a life of public service. As Lieutenant Governor, Fetterman presides over the state senate and chairs Pennsylvania’s Board of Pardons and Emergency Management Council. He also serves on special projects, such as a recently completed 67-county tour to hear constituents’ opinions on legalized adult-use marijuana. Last fall, Fetterman recommended new legislation to permanently turn over his taxpayer-provided housing in Fort Indiantown Gap to the state’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, in support of programming for veterans and survivors’ families.

“I’m honored and excited to return to my alma mater and share my experiences with this generation of graduates,” Fetterman said. “So much has changed about me and about the world since I last walked around this campus.”

The Princeton Review named Albright one of the best colleges and universities in the northeastern United States for 2020, based on surveys of 140,000 current college students.

Students shared with the Princeton Review that Albright provides undergraduates with a “close-knit” community, “full of diversity and passion.” Noting “strong arts and theater programs and a prestigious pre-professional program,” students report that their professors are “extremely passionate about what they teach.” Students also say that Albright undergraduates come from “all walks of life, all levels of economic status, and [possess] a variety of different political and social views.”

“Above all,” says the review, “the undergrads say that ‘the student body is full of friendly faces,’ and many here are ‘extremely kind and will go out of their way to help you.’”

President Jacquelyn S. Fetrow, Ph.D. ’82, has been named to a three-year term as a member of Tower Health Reading Hospital’s Board of Trustees.

“As anchor institutions in our community, it is important that Reading Hospital and Albright College work together to promote wellbeing and education in Berks County,” said President Fetrow. “Part of Reading Hospital’s mission is to promote health, educate health care professionals and participate in clinical research — which aligns well with Albright’s great track record in preparing students for professional careers in health care.”

A dozen new members were named to Albright’s faculty this fall to teach in the areas of music, philosophy, theatre, fashion, biology, sociology, religion, accounting, psychology and history. Among them is a philosophy professor who has practiced law in both Israel and the United States, an award-winning designer and visual artist, an expert in the biomechanics of birds, a choral director who has worked with singers and instrumentalists in 10 states, and a certified accountant with 25 years of experience in finance, tax and sales. Areas of research include politics, race, religion, inequality, music and social psychology.