Fred Folmer ’93

“Franklin & Marshall College gave me a good start and I’ve become aware of how important giving is to a small college,” Fred Folmer says. “That’s why I am including F&M in my estate plan.”

Folmer, who lives in Connecticut with his family, is a librarian at Connecticut College. Because he works at a small liberal arts college, he understands the need for donor support better than most. He loves his job, but he never expected to be an academic librarian.

“I started as a trade magazine editor,” he recalls. “I also thought I might want to be a playwright, because I had been so involved in the Green Room Theatre at F&M. I moved to New York and wrote plays, and some were produced in small Off-Off-Broadway theaters.”

At F&M, Folmer performed theatre, was heavily involved in the Green Room Theatre, and sang with the Chessmen and the Poor Richards. An English and drama major, he particularly remembers professors Dorothy Louise, Joseph Voelker ’69, and Geoff Pywell. Their mentorship, classes and knowledge defined his time on campus — and shaped his perspective long beyond graduation.

Eventually, Folmer returned for master’s degrees in library science and religious studies. In his early 40s, he started a new career as a Connecticut College reference librarian. Today, he’s the department head overseeing collection development and circulation services.

Folmer has advice for F&M students today.

“Think about your vocation — where your own deepest joy meets the needs of the world. What can you bring that the world needs? Try to get the experiences that help you find that place.”

You can craft your own legacy at F&M. Please contact Mary Ann M. Cooke, J.D., '90 at 717-358-4821 or mcooke@fandm.edu to learn more.