Andrew Rich

Andrew Owen Rich is an American political scientist, academic, and college administrator. Rich served as Dean of the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership from February 2019^[1][2] until becoming the 17th President of Franklin & Marshall College in July 2025. ^[3]

Andrew Rich
City College of New York official portrait
17th President of Franklin & Marshall College
Incumbent
Assumed office July 12, 2025
Preceded by	Barbara K. Altmann
CEO of the Truman Foundation
In office 2011-2019
President and CEO of the Roosevelt Institute
In office 2009-2011
Personal details
Spouse	Joel Allen
Alma mater	University of Richmond (BA) Yale University (PhD)
Occupation	Political scientist, college administrator, academic
Awards	Truman Scholar

Early life and education

Andrew Rich is a native of Delaware.^[4]

Education

Rich graduated from the University of Richmond in 1992 with a bachelor of arts in political science. In 1991, Rich received a Harry S. Truman Scholarship.^[2]

After graduating from Richmond, Rich received his doctorate in political science from Yale University in 1999.^[5] His dissertation was entitled Think Tanks, Public Policy, and the Politics of Expertise.

Rich later published Think Tanks, Public Policy, and the Politics of Expertise through Cambridge University Press in 2004.^[a][6][7]

Career

After graduating from Yale, Rich was a professor at Wake Forest University from 1999 to 2003.^[2] Rich later taught at the City College of New York from 2003 until July 2025, serving as chair of the political science department.

Franklin & Marshall College

In February 2025, the Franklin & Marshall College Board of Trustees announced Rich would succeed retiring president Barbara K. Altmann, who served in the role since 2018.^[4][3][8] Rich took office as the 17th president of Franklin & Marshall on July 12, 2025.^[9]

After taking offiice, Rich met with students, highlighting the "quality of education" as a priority for his administration.^[9]

Personal life

Rich has been married to his husband, Joel, for 30 years. Joel Allen is a professor of history and classics at the City University of New York.^[10]

Footnotes

1. Rich, Andrew (2004). Think Tanks, Public Policy, and the Politics of Expertise (PDF). Cambridge University Press.