Franklin Hosts 170th Commencement Ceremony

Contact:

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

Franklin University, one of the leading educators of working adults, will hold its 170th Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 20, 2022 at 7 p.m. (EDT), 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 May 20 ceremony will be the newest group of graduates traveling from Muscat, Oman. These new graduates earned a Franklin 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 170th Commencement is Dr. Bruce T. Vanderhoff. Dr. Vanderhoff was appointed director of the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) in August 2021. He joined the agency after being named chief medical officer in November 2020 and is a key leader in planning, managing, and executing Ohio’s COVID-19 response, including its wide-reaching vaccination program. Dr. Vanderhoff also leads the effort to transform the landscape of public health in Ohio through programs and policies that strive to erase inequities, elevate the importance of social determinants, and improve healthcare access and outcomes.  

Before joining ODH, Dr. Vanderhoff had amassed years of experience leading large teams in successfully dealing with important healthcare issues in Ohio. He served more than a decade as a senior vice president and chief medical officer at OhioHealth, where he prepared the healthcare system to manage the threat of Ebola and H1N1. He also addressed pressing healthcare issues affecting Ohio from rural Appalachia to metropolitan Columbus.  

His service has made him a nationally recognized physician leader with an impressive track record of managing large-scale healthcare initiatives, addressing disparities and improving population health. 

Dr. Vanderhoff holds a doctorate in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Business Administration from Franklin University. He completed a residency in family medicine at York Hospital in York, Pennsylvania.  

Also addressing the graduates will be graduating student speaker Jeni Cooke. Jeni joined Franklin University in 2018. She currently serves as the administrative assistant to the dean of the Ross College of Business and coordinator of the Franklin University Leadership Center. 

Jeni graduated from Capital University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She is an entrepreneur with experience in real estate, direct sales, and higher education. Her recent work with the Franklin University Leadership Center led her to pursue an M.S. in Business Psychology. 

Jeni cares about helping others succeed in their roles. She hopes to apply the knowledge and skills she gained from the business psychology program to foster the continued growth of the Leadership Center. Jeni also aspires to coach individuals.

Note:  The Spring 2022 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 7 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, May 20, 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).