A Title Does Not a Leader Make

Eddie Francis, a brand strategy consultant, award-winning broadcaster, podcaster, and speaker, is driven by the deep belief in the importance of being valued. As the founder of Edify Ventures, a consultancy focusing on personal and employer branding, Eddie hosts "I Wanna Work There!" on employer branding in higher education and "For Our Edification" on personal leadership. With a background in radio, including hosting the "HBCU Lifestyle Podcast," Eddie's contributions extend to various platforms, earning him recognition as one of New Orleans Magazine's "30 People to Watch." In higher education, he played pivotal roles in brand identity, communications, and enrollment growth. As a speaker, Eddie shares leadership insights with college students and has contributed to the book "Leadership to Letters." Eddie holds a Master of Professional Studies in strategic leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication. Proudly affiliated with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., he is the husband of Dr. Halima Leak Francis and the father of Stevie.

Recognized as a “Top 100 Visionary” in Education by the Global Forum for Education and Learning (2020-2021), Vicki is at the forefront of innovation and strategy in faculty and leadership development. A faculty member and Fulbright Specialist Alumna (Utrecht, Netherlands), Vicki’s goal is to help faculty members, colleges, and universities thrive. She is the E. Maynard Aris Endowed Professor in Economics and Management at Albion College, where she serves as chair of the Economics and Management Department. Prior to joining the academy as a faculty member, Vicki worked at Harvard Business School (Executive Education) and AK Steel Corporation. She earned her Ph.D. in higher education and her M.S. in management and organization from Penn State University. Vicki also holds an M.B.A. from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She holds a certificate in Human Resource Management (Villanova University) and is a Certified Professional in HR through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Vicki is the author and co-author of several books. She wrote “Managing Your Academic Career: A Guide to Re-envision Mid-Career” (Routledge/Taylor & Francis) and “Charting Your Path to Full: A Guide for Women Associate Professors.” Also in print is the New Directions in Higher Education volume, “Bridging the Research-Practice Nexus: Resources, Tools, and Strategies to Navigate Mid-Career in the Academy” (Wiley). She served as the lead editor of “Success After Tenure: Supporting Mid-Career Faculty,” Vicki was also the lead co-author of “Developing Faculty in Liberal Arts Colleges.” Her forthcoming book, “A Toolkit for Mid-Career Academics: Cultivating Career Advancement” (Routledge) will be in print, spring 2024. Vicki has written over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, invited opinion pieces for higher education news media outlets, case studies and blogs on the topics of faculty and leadership development and higher education. Vicki’s work has been featured in national/international media outlets including WalletHub, Times Higher Education, Hechinger Report, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, USA Today, New York Times, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and The Huffington Post. She regularly consults with industry and higher education institutions on the topics of leadership, faculty development, change management, and mentoring. Vicki has conducted workshops, scholarly presentations, and keynote addresses at professional associations including the Association for the Study of Higher Education, the Council for the Advancement of Higher Education Programs, the American Educational Research Association, and the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (POD). Her teaching and scholarship have garnered attention within and outside of her institution. She has been recognized as the Arthur Anderson Teacher of the Year, Phi Beta Kappa Scholar of the Year, Student’s Choice “Professor of the Year,” Arthur Anderson New Teacher of the Year, Most Valuable Professor, and “Professor of the Week” by the Michigan Colleges Alliance (MCA). Vicki was also a “Best Article Award 2012” Top 3 Finalist– Personnel Psychology and Highly Commended Winner for Excellence from the Emerald Literati Network (Journal of Managerial Psychology). Her work has been funded by the Henry Luce Foundation and the National Science Foundation. Vicki enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and their dog. She participates in interval training three days a week and is an avid reader.