Maureen Franklin is trading in her dean cap for a beret.
After 12 years as vice president of academic affairs and dean of the faculty, next year Franklin will change her job title to associate professor of French.
Franklin will also be the advisor for post-graduate awards and scholarships such as Fulbright.
Franklin said she was looking forward to the change.
“Since I was seven years old I have loved the French language,” Franklin said.
Franklin was first appointed as interim dean in 1997 and said she liked the duties of the office.
“I had a little period of time to see what it was like,” Franklin said.
In her time at Doane, Franklin has helped implement and expand many programs including the honors program, summer undergraduate research program, expanding faculty research and study abroad programs and the Crete campus’ cross-disciplinary Liberal Arts Seminars.
“Every single program developed while I have been dean was developed in collaboration with the faculty,” Franklin said. “None of these were done solo.”
Before coming to Doane, Franklin obtained her bachelors and Ph.D from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master’s degree from Stanford University.
She also received a Fulbright-Hays grant to study at the University of Strasbourg in France.
When Franklin first came to Doane, she served as director of Doane’s Midwest Institute Intensive English Program and a part-time French instructor. She then became as associate professor of French, Fulbright advisor and Midwest Institute director before becoming dean.
But for now, Franklin said she was excited to get back into the classroom.
“I am looking forward to getting back to the classroom fulltime,” Franklin said. “I love to teach. I hope to expand the French program and increase the number of students who study French at Doane College.”
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