Lawrence Franks, M.A. '73
Home: Arlington, Va.
Work: Television Production Consultant & Learning Management Consultant
Major: B.A., Yale; M.A., Clark University (Government and International Relations)
Alumni Activities: Member of Legacy Society; Alumni Career Services Network, Member; Alumni Admissions Representative
Statement
My time as a graduate student at Clark lasted just two years, but the rewards have lasted a lifetime. My first contact with Clark came out of the blue - a letter from a professor that managed to reach me at my Peace Corps posting in East Africa. That's Clark in a nutshell: reaching out, connecting with the rest of the world in so many constructive ways. Clark gave me knowledge, skills and tools that served me throughout my professional career. But more important than these is the appreciation Clark instilled in me for intellectual inquiry, for the diversity of viewpoints, and for applying learning to issues that matter to our nation and society.
Clark afforded me the opportunity to conduct a research project in Vietnam while still a graduate student, setting the stage for my later return to Africa to serve at an institute for public administration. As the owner of two media production companies, I helped institutions communicate with a variety of audiences, nationally and internationally. More recently, I have become a trustee and officer of a philanthropic foundation focused on community welfare and cultural advancement; I'm proud of a pilot effort we are sponsoring to fund internships for Clark students to work in the nonprofit sector.
Clark is a place where faculty is accessible, where students and faculty exchange ideas freely, and where learning leads to positive outcomes. More so than many institutions, Clark is an integral part of the community where it is located. Yet Clark also functions exceptionally well as a dynamic nexus that connects students to the global community. As a Trustee, I'd work to foster those unique qualities that make Clark an exciting center of learning and action.
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