Columbus, Ohio - Franklin University, one of the leading educators of working adults in central Ohio, is pleased to announce Dr. Tomas Parks has been named Dean of the College of Business. The College houses the Division of Undergraduate Business Studies, Division of Accounting and Finance, and Franklin' Graduate Programs in Business and Marketing & Communications.

The role of Dean was created during Franklin's July 2008 reorganization in which the College of Business and the College of Arts, Sciences and Technology were formed.  The formation of these two colleges is a significant event in the history of Franklin University. The new colleges embrace current and future academic programs that share curriculum features based on foundational disciplines, as well as current and future faculty members who will tackle the range of learning needs, and professional challenges and opportunities unique to their respective fields of study.

In his role as Dean of the College of Business, Dr. Parks will promote and support the vision and mission of Franklin University, ensure the overall quality of curriculum, ensure that programs conduct appropriate learning-outcome assessment, and assure the quality of the overall student experience.

Dr. Parks had served as Dean of the School of Business and as a professor teaching graduate courses at Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU).  While at MVNU he maintained oversight of academic quality and had primary responsibility for faculty recruitment, development, motivation, supervision, and school administration, in addition to introducing a number of new structures and programs. He started an alumni and friends' advisory board, revised and updated all undergraduate majors, developed and launched new graduate programs, led the business programs through program specific accreditation processes, increased faculty diversity and the number of Ph.D.-qualified faculty, and led school assessment-plan implementation.



Prior to joining MVNU, Dr. Parks served as Coordinator of the Bachelor of Science in Business and Assistant Professor at Penn State University from 1998 to 2003. Dr. Parks has also taught courses at Azusa Pacific University, Cleveland State University, and at the University of Arizona.



He holds a Ph.D. in Macro Organization Theory and Policy Strategy with a minor in International Business from Kent State University. He also holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a B.S. in Industrial Personnel Management from the University of Akron.



In alignment with the appointment of a College of Business Dean, Dr. Terry Boyd has been named Associate Dean of the College of Business and will report directly to Dr. Parks. Dr. Boyd will maintain coordinating responsibilities for Allied Healthcare Management, Applied Management, Business Administration, eMarketing, Healthcare Information Systems Management, Healthcare Management, Human Resources Management, Management, Marketing, Operations and Supply Chain Management, Organizational Leadership, Public Safety Management, and Safety and Security Management - programs that share curriculum features based on business and management disciplines.


In January, Dr. Keith Groff was named Dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Technology, which is comprised of the Division of Arts, Humanities, and General Education, as well as the Division of Computer and Information Sciences. Franklin's Healthcare Management, Healthcare Information Systems Management, and Public Safety majors will ultimately transition to the College of Arts, Sciences, and Technology.

About Franklin University
Founded in 1902, Franklin University is the Midwest's leading and most experienced educator of adult students. Annually, more than 11,000 students attend Franklin, both on campus at its four central Ohio locations and online. Recently, the University announced plans to expand into Indianapolis, Indiana, with the goal of offering classes beginning Fall 2009. Franklin offers 25 undergraduate majors (with 4 beginning in Fall 2009) and three graduate programs, including an MBA, and graduates more than 1,500 students annually. Further information regarding Franklin University can be found at www.franklin.edu.