Notable Alumni of Albright College
Albright College, a private liberal arts institution in Reading, Pennsylvania, has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1856 as "Union Seminary." Over the years, it evolved into "Albright Collegiate Institute" and later merged with Central Pennsylvania College, ultimately adopting the name Albright College in honor of Jacob Albright, a Pennsylvania-German evangelical preacher. While the college has faced recent financial challenges, it continues to offer a diverse range of programs and maintains a strong tradition in the liberal arts. The college offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, as well as a Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees in education. Albright offers a wide range of classical and pre-professional programs. It created one of the first undergraduate psychobiology programs in the nation in the 1960s. Albright's Domino Players Company has been invited to perform at the Region II KCACTF Festival 10 times in the last 18 years (2004, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2020). At the National Conference held every April in Washington DC, Albright's theatre program has garnered dozens of awards for distinguished work in performance, direction, dramaturgy, scenic, sound, costume, and lighting design.
Albright College has produced a number of notable alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields, including politics, entertainment, law, sports, and academia. This article highlights some of the most prominent graduates and former students of Albright College.
Politics and Public Service
Albright College has a strong tradition of producing leaders in the realm of politics and public service. Several alumni have gone on to hold significant positions in government at the state and national levels.
John Fetterman: An American politician, is the senior United States senator from Pennsylvania, since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he served from 2006 to 2019 as the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, and from 2019 to 2023 as the 34th lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. He enrolled in Albright College In 1991 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in finance
Anthony Portantino: An American politician who served in the California State Senate from 2016 to 2024. A Democrat, he represented the 25th Senate District which encompasses portions of the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys. Portantino was a member of the California State Assembly from 2006 to 2012, representing the 44th Assembly District.
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Danene Sorace: An American politician and current mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She was elected as the 43rd mayor of Lancaster and the second woman to serve in the position. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She received her bachelor's degree from Albright College and her master's degree in public policy from Rutgers University. She is also the former director of the Answer program at Rutgers.
Peter DeMarco: An American physician who graduated from Albright College in Pennsylvania and achieved his doctor of medicine degree in 1957 from Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Peter Thomas DeMarco was an American physician.
Edwin Erickson: An American politician. He served multiple terms on the Council of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, including two years as its chairman. He was later elected to the Pennsylvania Senate, representing the 26th District from 2001 to 2015. The district included most of Delaware County and parts of Chester County. He enrolled in Albright College In 1960 graduated with Bachelor of Science in biology
Arts and Entertainment
Albright College alumni have also found success in the world of arts and entertainment, showcasing their talents on stage and screen.
Kevin Bacon: An American actor. Known for his leading man and character roles, Bacon has received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award.
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Wilhelmina McAlpin Godfrey: An American painter, printmaker and textile artist, art educator and community activist in Buffalo, New York.
Law
Thomas R. Kline: An American personal injury attorney. His cases have helped shape Pennsylvania law and resulted in corporate, institutional, and governmental changes throughout the civil justice system. The law schools at Drexel University and Duquesne University are named for Kline. He is a partner in Kline & Specter and a member and past president (2008-2009) of the Inner Circle of Advocates.
Athletics
Albright College has a long history of athletic achievement, and several of its alumni have gone on to have successful careers in professional sports. Did you know that there were nine former Albright College ballplayers who made it to the majors?
Allen Sothoron: An American professional baseball player, coach and manager. As a player, he was a spitball pitcher who spent 11 years in the major leagues playing for the St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians and the St. Louis Cardinals. Sothoron attended Albright College and Juniata College. His best season came in 1919, where he went 20-13 with a 2.20 ERA. After the spitball was outlawed, he was one of the few pitchers allowed to use the banned pitch. He was never able to match those numbers, and quickly after being released by the Browns, he was out of baseball. He was an assistant coach with the Browns, with a brief, eight-game managerial stint after the dismissal of Bill Killefer.
Casey Lawrence: An American professional baseball pitcher in the Seattle Mariners organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
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Academia and Literature
Albright College has also produced notable figures in academia and literature, contributing to scholarly discourse and creative writing.
Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ: A Kenyan American poet, author, and academic. He is associate professor of literatures in English at Cornell University and co-founder of the Safal-Cornell Kiswahili Prize for African Writing. His father is the author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. His family was deeply impacted by the British suppression of the Mau Mau revolution.
Joseph Berg Esenwein: An American editor, lecturer and writer. He was noted for contributions to the Library of the World's Best Literature.
Emma Seifrit Weigley: An American professor of nutrition. Her husband was military historian Russell Weigley. She Studied in 1954.
Stephen Gill Spottswood: A religious leader and civil rights activist known for his work as bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ) and chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
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