New dean has extensive background

By Nikolina Hatton

The business, computer applications and health and physical education department has a new permanent dean: Larkin Franks.

Franks has been an instructor for the Hospitality and Tourism Program for 13 years, and in September 2004 she accepted a position as assistant dean of business, integrated media, social science, and math.

College President Robert Silverman appointed her as the interim dean for her current position on July 1, 2005, after the reorganization of campus departments.

This position is a culmination of everything Franks has done thus far, she said, because she has both teaching and management experience.

Franks taught high school Spanish for four years, and while taking students to Mexico City she discovered she really enjoyed traveling.

She started at the bottom of the travel business and moved her way up until she owned her own travel-related business.

In 1985, Franks began working on her master’s degree in travel and tourism at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She was then offered a part-time-instructing position at Portland State University where she taught travel classes.

While she was a student, part-time instructor and business owner, Mt. Hood Community College started talking to her about creating a teaching position at its Gresham campus.
Terry Folen, the department chair of health and physical education, said Franks is just out of the classroom and understands and values the instructors she leads.

“She’s done an excellent job,” she said. “She jumped in right at the beginning and has worked hard to learn our area.”

Franks said she respects what MHCC represents. “I really do have a passion for Mt. Hood Community College,” she said. “It’s challenging and every day provides new opportunities, but it’s really a lot of fun.”