Spring 2024 Robert L. Bailey Teaching Award Recipients Announced

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 in central Ohio, will celebrate its 176th Commencement on Sunday, June 2 at 2 p.m. (ET). Along with honoring the graduates, Franklin recognizes Dr. Tracy Greene and James Hicks from its faculty as recipients of the distinguished Robert L. Bailey Teaching Award.

Congratulations to this trimester’s recipients: Dr. Tracy Greene, graduate adjunct faculty and, James Hicks, undergraduate adjunct faculty.

Graduate Bailey Award Winner
Dr. Tracy Greene joined Franklin University as an adjunct professor in 2016, teaching undergraduate courses. In 2018, she began teaching at the graduate level. Her teaching style consists of engaging students with mentoring, coaching, facilitation, encouragement and support to ensure each student understands the course objectives’ fundamentals and turns theory into practice. Dr. Greene holds a doctorate from the University of Phoenix, as well as bachelor’s and MBA degrees from Tiffin University. In addition to more than 17 years of higher education teaching experience, Dr. Greene has more than 25 years of practitioner experience in the residential and industrial paint, eyeglass, and office supplies industries. She also provides organizational leadership, management, and behavior consulting and training through her consulting firm.

Undergraduate Bailey Award Winner
James Hicks has been an adjunct professor, since 2003, teaching many of Franklin University’s science courses. Hicks has a teaching style that demonstrates a keen perspective for the needs of the Franklin student. Knowing how to meaningfully connect the content of a general education course to the goals of students has proven to be a most effective teaching skill. Recently, Jim became an instructional coach and helps to mentor new Franklin adjuncts. Jim earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Ohio State University. For nearly 30 years, he has worked at a world-leading science research facility in Columbus, Ohio, using his knowledge and background to solve tough challenges associated with environmental pollution at sites located across the globe.

About the Robert L. Bailey Teaching Award
Each trimester, two faculty members are honored with the Robert L. Bailey Teaching Award. Graduating students are asked to identify one undergraduate and one graduate faculty member who had the most significant influence on them throughout their educational experience at Franklin University. The award recognizes those who have challenged students intellectually and guided them in finding the significance of the course content as it relates to them both personally and professionally.

While more than 100 graduate and undergraduate faculty members are nominated each trimester – clearly showing the magnitude of interaction between students and faculty at Franklin University – the faculty members receiving the most nominations are awarded this honor.

These awards are funded through an endowment established by State Auto Insurance Companies in recognition of Robert L. Bailey, who served State Auto for 28 years in various positions, including President, CEO, and Chairman, until his retirement in 2000. Bailey is also a past Chair and a Trustee Emeritus of Franklin University’s Board of Trustees.

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).