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Black Theologian to Head Morehouse

By Edward Mitchell
Black College Wire

The search for Morehouse College’s 10th president has ended with the selection of Robert Michael Franklin, a 1975 graduate of the school and a professor in the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta.

Franklin is expected to succeed outgoing president Walter Massey this summer.

Emory University Photography Services New leader Robert Franklin said he wants to "restore the brand name of Morehouse."

A former president of the Interdenominational Theological Center in the Atlanta University Center, Franklin, 53, has long advocated the importance of religion and spirituality in the African American community.

He is author of the new “Crisis in the Village: Restoring Hope to African American Communities,” which maintains that black colleges are facing a crisis of moral purpose.

The Board of Trustees unanimously confirmed Franklin during the weekend of April 27, just days after he and two other candidates — the Rev. Calvin Butts, pastor of the Abysinnian Baptist Church in Harlem and president of the State University of New York's College at Old Westbury, and John S. Wilson Jr., who is on leave as executive dean of the Virginia campus at George Washington University — met with students, faculty and staff on campus.

Among the factors in the committee’s decision were comment sheets from members of the Morehouse community, filled out after they interacted with each candidate.

SGA President Marcus Edwards, the only student member of the trustee board, said "all of the finalists were qualified and exemplary men.” He said, "I learned a great deal, and have never seen such efficiency in the organization of people."

Franklin’s son, Julian DeShazier, graduated from Morehouse in 2005. He works as a youth pastor in Chicago and is pursuing a music career.

DeShazier, Franklin's son from a previous relationship, praised his father’s selection, saying, “I am obviously quite proud of my father and honored that someone in my family — let alone 'Pops' — would have the opportunity to represent the next vein of leadership for Morehouse College. The House is my beloved alma mater and the greatest institution in the world, and this next generation of young leaders deserves a charismatic, brilliant, and profound man like Dr. Robert Franklin.”

Morehouse College, a historically black institution for men serving approximately 3,000 students, is known for such alumni as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It ranks as one of the top feeder schools to graduate institutions. The current president, Massey, has served since 1995 and announced his retirement last fall.

Many students had expressed a desire for Morehouse’s next president to encourage morality, connect with the student body and engage in successful fundraising. Some of those issues were addressed in a one-page plan that Franklin submitted to the trustees.

The Maroon Tiger, the student newspaper, obtained a copy of the plan, “The Renaissance of Morehouse College: An Action Agenda for America’s Most Important Academy.”

First among the goals was to “restore the brand name of Morehouse.” Franklin wrote that he will begin a national marketing-public relations offensive to tell the Morehouse story. Other points include projecting "the 21st century image of the Morehouse Man as a symbol of hope” and presenting Morehouse "as the go to institution on black community research.”

Franklin made a subtle reference to the off-campus murder of a student last fall, saying he intends to “explain and conceptualize recent campus tragedies and crises.

Under his second goal, "renewing the village of Morehouse," Franklin mentioned the creation of a safe, attractive campus environment, weekly presidential forums with students and a greater emphasis on religion and morality. Franklin recalled the biblical story of David, saying that Morehouse students must focus on spiritual, intellectual, inspirational, personal and social improvement, also known as the five smooth stones used to defeat Goliath.

Franklin also called for improved cultivation of faculty, suggesting the creation of a Center for Faculty Development and sending faculty members to media organizations as pundits and commentators on African American issues.

He said he plans to “enhance salaries and benefits to retain, attract and appreciate faculty and staff treasures.”

Franklin also focuses on fundraising, writing that Morehouse must “intensify staff-led, alumni driven fundraising initiative[s]; meet needs: people don’t give because we have needs but because we meet needs; guarantee our future by aggressively increasing our endowment” and “promote the concept of ‘stretch giving’ for all stakeholders.”

Board members who examined the plan said they were confident in Franklin’s potential for success.

Edwards, the student member of the trustee board, said, “I would hope that he establishes a connection to the students, faculty, staff, alumni and trustees so that his actions will be considerate of the several constituencies; but some issues affect us all, including the surrounding community. Therefore, safety, development, and higher graduation rates must be goals.”

Franklin’s son, DeShazier, added, “It'll be a great time to be a student" at Morehouse. "Too bad I graduated. Every young man there will have the opportunity to discover the wisdom that lies in his wonderful soul — and find themselves in the process. I've known for 23 years what you are getting ready to see for the first time.”

In his book, "Crisis in the Village: Restoring Hope in African American Communities," (Fortress Press), Franklin argues that, "Black colleges are facing a crisis of moral purpose because many are no longer preparing leaders to serve their communities but are instead simply supplying talent to the marketplace," according to John Blake, writing in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Board members say that Franklin and the Morehouse administration will complete negotiations soon, and he is expected to return to campus for May commencement.

Edward Mitchell, a student at Morehouse College, is news editor of the Maroon Tiger. To comment, e-mail [email protected]

Posted May 3, 2007