Press Release

Franklin Hosts 169th Commencement Ceremony

Contact:

Sherry Mercurio
Executive Director, Office of Community Relations
(614) 947-6581
Email: sherry.mercurio@franklin.edu

Columbus, OH (January 4, 2022)

Franklin University, one of the leading educators of working adults, will hold its 169th Commencement Ceremony of Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022 at 2 p.m. (EST), during which the University’s newest degree candidates will receive their diplomas. This commencement ceremony will take place at The Greater Columbus Convention Center, Battelle Grand Hall, 400 N. High St. in downtown Columbus.

Commencement has always been a time of celebration. For Franklin University, the event marks a tremendous sense of achievement for students who completed their degrees often while juggling work, families and more. The University is proud to honor the achievements of this newest class of graduates and invites the community to join in the celebration.

Joining the Jan. 9 ceremony will be the newest group of graduates traveling from Muscat, Oman. These new graduates earned a Franklin's MBA offered through the Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS) in Oman. Through the program, Franklin’s MBA classes are taught in English by a combination of Franklin faculty who travel to Oman, as well as local faculty from MCBS and other institutions.

Commencement Speakers
Receiving an honorary degree and speaking at Franklin’s 169th Commencement is returning Board of Trustees member, Pamela Springer. Pamela is a seasoned entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience growing tech-based companies including raising $55M in funding and leading re-starts and IPOs. She most recently served as president and CEO of ORIS Intelligence. There, she drove strategic growth for the company, resulting in its recognition as one of the fastest-growing companies in Ohio, supporting over 750 world-class brands. After growing the ORIS team by 100% over the past three years, the company was acquired in 2019 by PriceSpider. Prior to Pamela’s work at ORIS, she built Manta Media into one of the largest, most-trafficked websites in the U.S.

Pamela has been recognized as one of the 13 Powerful Women Running Today’s Biggest Startups by Business Insider and was awarded the 2011 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Technology for the central region. She sits on the boards of multiple emerging growth companies including RevLocal and InvestX Capital.

Springer earned a business degree from Franklin University, graduating summa cum laude. She played on the Oakland University basketball team and was a member of the NCAA Division II Final Four team. When she’s not working, Pamela is an avid sports fan; an outdoor enthusiast, who recently summited Mt. Kilimanjaro; and a flute player.

Also addressing the graduates will be Jonathan Ransom. Jonathan is currently a team leader for a leading business process outsourcing organization. Today, he is graduating with his M.S. in Information Technology. Jonathan earned his associate degree in computer science from Columbus State and a bachelor’s degree in information technology from Franklin University.

During Jonathan’s time with Franklin University, he has found a deeper understanding of himself, as well as his professional and academic capabilities. He credits Franklin with helping him to progress in his mastery of the IT concepts, communication and leadership skills necessary to help others understand the possibilities that educational perseverance can yield.

He hopes to apply his knowledge to build educational platforms in IT literacy, financial, professional and personal growth. He is a current member of Hebrew Baptist church where he is part of a team developing IT literacy classes for all ages. In a world where so many people feel hopeless, he is dedicated to providing hope and avenues for change.

Jonathan wants to thank his mother, Bernice G. Isbell; his wife, Shasta; and his family for believing in him.

Note:  The Fall 2021 commencement ceremony will be streamed live for those families and friends who wish to watch the ceremony from home. A link to access the live stream will be made available on the Graduation Information page (https://www.franklin.edu/commencement) at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022.

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).

News Type

  • University