PSA: Dan Porterfield is the greatest man you will ever meet.
To those students who have yet to attend office hours or simply introduce themselves, I strongly encourage you to have a conversation with our President. Not only is his list of accomplishments too long to list, but he is also an incredible person that is dedicated to supporting the students of F&M. I am honored to say I consider him a friend and even more grateful he found time to answer some trivial and some serious questions about himself. Read on to find out more about F&M’s illustrious President Dr. Porterfield!
HC: What was your major in college?
DP: English
HC: What made you choose this major?
DP: I loved literature and viewed it as the generalist’s major because the course material covered everything that could be written about.
HC: If you could not be President of F&M for a day, what would you be doing instead?
DP: I would be serving as the Secretary General of the United Nations — or, on the lighter side either hanging out with Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Baby Blue.
HC: What is your favorite memory from college?
DP: Meeting my wife, Karen, which led to hundreds more great memories that our children never seem to want to hear about.
HC: What is your favorite color?
DP: Blue
HC: What are you most proud of?
DP: The lives of my children and our family.
HC: Would you ever go skydiving?
DP: No, unless my doing so could save lives.
HC: When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?
DP: The shortstop for the New York Yankees, and, later, mayor of the City of Baltimore.
HC: Where was the most interesting place you’ve travelled to?
DP: Russia in 1984 when no one could have imagined the end of the Soviet Union.
HC: What is your biggest fear?
DP: That humanity will fail to come together to address the risks and challenges that could limit the lives and happiness of future generations.
HC: What is one thing you wish the students of F&M knew about you?
DP: That their creativity inspires me.
HC: What is your favorite part about being President of F&M?
DP: The chance to watch students and educators co-create learning, knowledge, and meaning.
HC: What is your favorite movie?
DP: It depends on my mood, but it’s hard to top Pulp Fiction and The Parent Trap.
HC: What is a typical day in the life of an F&M President?
DP: A typical day involves talking with students, important campus moments, asking people to help F&M, promoting F&M in the public space, problem-solving with colleagues, sending positive messages on social media, and drinking eight cups of coffee.
HC: Ben or John?
DP: Has to be both! We’re not Franklin or Marshall!