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Joe Franks Receives Prestigious Mary Frances Poole Alston Award

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Joe Franks (second from left), Student Services Manager for Counseling Services at Lander University, has received The Mary Frances Poole Alston Award for the impact she has made upon the campus community. Standing with Joe from left to right are Mike Worley, vice president for University Advancement; President Richard Cosentino; and Boyd Yarbrough, vice president for Student Affairs. Photo by Laura Brown.

Joe Franks, director of Counseling Services and the CARE (Collaboration, Assessment, Response and Evaluation) Team at Lander University, has received the Mary Frances Poole Alston Award for the impact she has made upon the campus community. The presentation was made on Tuesday, March 26.

Franks, of Greenwood, is a Lander alumna, who earned her bachelor's degree in psychology in 1980. She joined the Lander Student Affairs staff in 2004.

"Throughout her time with Lander, Joe has established a reputation for the level of care she shows towards our students," said Boyd Yarbrough, vice president for Student Affairs. "She coordinates an in-house team of advisors from our Student Affairs and Academic Affairs offices. When she receives information about students who may be at-risk for any number of reasons, it's Joe who determines the steps we will take to help."

The Mary Frances Poole Alston Award was established by Rowland P. Alston in memory of his grandmother, who was a 1914 graduate of Lander University. The award carries with it an honorarium of $1,000 to the recipient. The selected recipient must demonstrate effective and excellent work habits, display a positive attitude and show genuine interest towards co-workers promoting teamwork in the workplace.

Mike Worley, Vice President for University Advancement, presented the award to Franks. "Joe consistently displays a willingness to go above and beyond in her area, providing exceptional support for Lander students as well as the Lander community at large," Worley said.