TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. David Francko, associate dean of the College of Arts and Science at Miami University in Ohio, has been named assistant vice president for academic affairs and dean of the Graduate School at The University of Alabama.
Dr. Judy Bonner, UA provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, announced the appointment, which is effective Wednesday, Aug. 16. Francko will replace Dr. Ronald Rogers who retired after 30 years at UA.
“Dr. Francko has an excellent academic and administrative record,” Bonner said. “His experience and accomplishments make him the ideal choice to lead the UA Graduate School.”
In 16 years at Miami University, Francko has been awarded 23 grant and contracts worth more than $3 million. As associate dean, he developed a college grant incentive program to improve external grant acquisition, which increased grant funding by 66 percent.
“The University of Alabama is a fine first-tier, student-centered research university, and I look forward to working with the UA faculty and administration to move the Graduate School forward at this exciting time,” Francko said. “Working together, we can create synergistic excellence in graduate and undergraduate education, enhance grant opportunities for faculty and students and recruit the best qualified and most diverse faculty and student body possible.”
Francko received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from Kent State University and a doctorate in botany from Michigan State University. He has written five books, more than 50 journal articles and eight chapters and monographs.
The University of Alabama has more than 3,700 graduate students in 120 master’s and doctoral programs. The Graduate School operates in cooperation with the other divisions of the University to foster the research and scholarly activities that are the hallmark of a major graduate and research institution.
Contact
Deidre Stalnaker, UA Media Relations, 205/348-3782, dstalnaker@ur.ua.edu