Franklin honored with diversity awardby Michael BakerPublic Relations John Franklin, director of support services, became the ninth recipient of the Office of Diversity’s Earl B. Higgins Achievement in Diversity Award. Every year since 1996, the Office of Diversity honors a member of the MUSC family for his or her achievements in the pursuit of diversity. The award was established in honor of the late Earl B. Higgins, former director of the Office of Minority Affairs. Franklin’s nomination and selection for the 2004 award came with strong support from his colleagues at the university. “John is an outstanding leader and a wonderful member of the Hospital Authority,” said Lisa Montgomery, interim vice president for Finance and Administration and administrator for Finance and Support Services. “He’s broadened the university’s relationships within the community and even helped foster new ones. Within the department, he personally counsels staff members and has done so much to further diversity and education.” Sabra Slaughter, Ph.D., chief of staff, President’s Office, also holds a great deal of respect for Franklin and his efforts to promote diversity. “I have met and spoken with John on numerous occasions and found him to be a competent, industrious, selfless colleague with genuine commitment to staff development and building partnerships with under-utilized sectors of the community,” Slaughter said. “In addition to promoting greater involvement with women and minority community representatives, he is equally passionate about promoting the interests and addressing the needs of veterans. John is an inspiration to us all and is truly deserving of the Earl B. Higgins Achievement in Diversity recognition.” Indeed, a brief chat with Franklin’s colleagues revealed the depth of his commitment to his peers and to MUSC. “Mr. Franklin just thinks of any way to help his employees,” said Karen Pressley, administrative assistant, Purchasing Services-Medical Center. In 2002, Franklin approached her about setting up a program for MUHA employees who wanted to earn their general equivalency diplomas. Under Franklin’s guidance, Pressley worked with Maxine Smith, Ed.D., director of Burke High School and Charleston County’s Community Outreach Program, to bring a GED preparation program to MUHA employees. Joe Logan, manager of Purchasing Services-Medical Center, expounded on Franklin’s ability to identify opportunities for improvement in his employees. Franklin realized that some dietary and housekeeping employees hadn’t received their high school diplomas, which prevented them from advancing professionally. According to Logan, the GED program provided a solution to employees who were looking for new opportunities to succeed in their careers. “By overseeing the GED program, Mr. Franklin didn’t just help those MUHA employees in their everyday activities, through the knowledge they gained during the GED prep courses,” Logan said, “he also gave them hope for a better future, in the sense that advancement and promotion were attainable goals.” In fact, Pressley revealed that as an incentive to personal and professional growth, certain employees joined MUSC under the condition that they enroll in and complete the GED program. For employees interested in higher-level, continuing education, Franklin helped organize a tuition assistance program that helped three employees earn their bachelor’s degrees while another works towards that goal. Tuition assistance also allowed Pressley to earn a master’s degree. “He even helped me review my term papers,” she said. “How many employers will do that for you?” Virgie Bryant-Green, a buyer in Purchasing Services-Medical Center, echoed Pressley’s appreciation for the program. “If it weren’t for tuition assistance,” she said, “I wouldn’t have received my bachelor’s degree.” Bryant-Green repaid Franklin’s faith in her and graduated with honors. Iola Powell, manager in accounts payable, also graduated with honors thanks to the tuition assistance program. “John believes in education and empowers his employees to do the best job possible,” she said. “He’s been instrumental in assisting us in reaching a higher level of education.” Franklin’s work with minority vendors also elicited respect from his colleagues. “I became acquainted with John while meeting with various campus colleagues to inform them of efforts to promote greater participation among small, minority, and women entrepreneurs in doing business with the Medical University and Hospital Authority,” Slaughter said. “He demonstrated real interest and engagement in promoting the effort. He assigned staff members to dedicate time and energy to the initiative, provided personal time, and supported the efforts of a community advisory committee.” “He’s helped us develop great relationships with minority-owned businesses locally and throughout the state,” Logan said. Franklin encouraged others within his department to seek minority-owned businesses and placed advertisements through minority-owned radio stations and newspaper outlets such as The Chronicle. Pressley recalled referring a window washer to Franklin with guarded optimism, and the man soon had a small contract at MUSC. Bryant-Green also spoke of Franklin’s successful efforts to contract a minority-owned office supply company that now provides material to several departments at MUSC. “He’ll do anything he can to get minorities involved at the medical center,” Pressley said. As important as Franklin’s actions have been to the people around him, his colleagues value their personal relationships with him more than anything. Bryant-Green, a 35-year employee of MUSC, began working for Franklin in 1995 and upon meeting him, she wasn’t certain they’d get along. Now she knows better. “He sets the example for the rest of us,” she said. “He’s here when we arrive in the morning, and he’s still working when we go home for the day. His leadership makes our office a good team.” Pressley especially appreciated Franklin’s ability to see the potential of those around him. “Mr. Franklin can look inside people and see everything they’re capable of accomplishing,” she said. “He looks outside the box of what you think you can do and brings out the best in us.” “There’s definitely something about him,” Logan agreed. “When you meet him, he instills a sense that you can achieve more than you ever thought you could.” Powell’s sentiments mirrored those of Logan. “I’ve worked for the university
for more than 29 years, and I have yet to meet a more dedicated and fair
person,” she said.
Award recipientsDuring the award ceremony April 7, the Office of Diversity also recognized the nominees for the Earl B. Higgins Achievement in Diversity Award: Valerie West, Ed.D., associate provost for education and student life; Carolyn Jenkins, Dr.PH, R.N., associate professor and outreach director for the Diabetes Initiative of South Carolina (COM); Vanessa Hill, transplant liaison; Susan Brooks, director of international programs; Michael de Arellano, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences; and Richard E. Peterson, editor of The Catalyst.Former MUSC president James B. Edwards, DMD, and wife Ann D. Edwards also received the Commitment to Diversity Award, and Lucille Skaggs, business and student programs manager in the Office of Diversity, received the Lifetime Devoted to Diversity award. The three recipients were honored as exemplary members of the MUSC family who’ve dedicated themselves to promoting diversity throughout the university and the community. To conclude the award presentations, Thaddeus J. Bell, M.D., director
of university diversity, presented scholarship awards ($1,000 each) to
the following people: Tremayne Thurman, Health Professions; Clarice Childs,
Nursing; Marjorie P. Turner, Women and Infants Services; JeJuan Gamble,
Pharmacy; Alberto Saenz, Dental Medicine; and André Eaddy, Graduate
Studies.
Friday, April 23, 2004
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