The National Council on Student Development is pleased to announce the Keynote Speakers for its 2010 National Conference.

Dr. Franklin has over 30 years experience working at community and technical colleges in three states.  He has taught and performed a variety of administrative duties on campuses from 1,500 to 33,000 students.  He has taught classes ranging from psychology to sign language and administratively has been responsible for both student services and instructional areas.  He has written numerous grants and has been responsible for the establishment of many new programs including the Gallaudet University Center, programs for student athletes, students with disabilities and an interpreter training program.

Dr. Franklin has written chapters in numerous books and has spoken at over 100 conferences on topics such as community college leadership, The Americans with Disabilities Act, programs for academically under prepared students, legal issues in classroom instruction, organizing for institutional effectiveness, guidelines for student services programming, student success programs and institutional evaluation.

Dr. Franklin has also developed and produced over 20 different educational television programs and was a finalist for an American Cable Excellence (ACE) Award for educational programming.  He has served as a consultant to colleges throughout the United States and has an extensive history of volunteer activities in the community ranging from coaching baseball to serving on boards of various charitable and church related organizations. He has also been on the boards of numerous national associations.

He was appointed by Secretary of Education Riley to serve on the Board of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, New York where he served for five years. 

He was appointed by Governor Huckabee to the Southern Growth Policies Board Council for a New Economy Workforce and was named as one of 15 members of the Cisco Networking Academy Advisory Council. He serves on the board of the Arkansas Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Technology Coalition and was recently appointed by Governor Beebe to the Workforce Cabinet. He also serves as vice-chair of the Connect Arkansas Board and is a Paul Harris Fellow.

Dr. Franklin is currently serving as the Executive Director and CEO of the Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges where he provides information about the value and impact of two-year colleges while working as a liaison to various governmental and educational agencies.  He also helps provide staff development opportunities for faculty and staff and works with business and industry to help facilitate partnerships with the two-year colleges in Arkansas. 

    

Dr. Laura Dean is an Assistant Professor in the College Student Affairs Administration Program at the University of Georgia.  Prior to her current position,  she served as the senior student affairs officer at Pfeiffer University and  Peace College in North Carolina.  She earned her undergraduate degree in English from Westminster College (PA) and her graduate degrees in Counselor Education/Student Development in Higher Education,  both from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. A member of ACA, ACCA, ACPA, and NASPA, she has also been active in CAS, the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education, for nearly 15 years, serving on the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, as Publications Editor, and currently as President-Elect.  She has been recognized with the ACPA Senior Professional Annuit Coeptis award and the American College Counseling Association Professional Leadership Award. Her research interests include small college issues, assessment, and the use of professional standards.