TIFFANY FRANKS

Ahead of her first job interview there, Tiffany Franks visited Averett University’s campus with her husband to scope it out — a bit of “mystery shopping,” if you will. “We fell in love,” she recalls. “It was a match made in heaven.”

Franks became Averett’s 14th president in 2008, making her the first woman to lead the university since its founding. Her tenure has been defined by expansion and change, with a list of accomplishments including new facilities, new academic programs and new athletics teams. “One of the things I’m most grateful for is how we have established Averett’s place in this community and garnered tremendous community support,” she says.

Averett’s aeronautics program is an example of both the university’s growth and its role as “a hometown university.” Aeronautics has seen enrollment increase 25% in a five-year period, and it now operates the Danville airport.

This type of partnership explains why one of Franks’ favorite traditions on campus is the annual engaged learning showcase, which celebrates Averett students, faculty and staff who are active in the community. Franks likewise has been celebrated for her accomplishments, including in 2022 when she won the Courageous Leadership Award from higher education consulting firm Credo, though she’s quick to note she’s surrounded by a great senior leadership team.

“Any time a compliment is paid to me, it’s a testament to so many people,” Franks says. “It’s the privilege of a lifetime to have served this institution.”

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