Spring Break
CSU President finalist reflects on future plans
Tony Frank backed by campus, community leaders for position
Emily Johnson
Issue date: 6/17/09 Section: News
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When asked how things are going so far, he simply answers, "It's busy," with a warm, gentle laugh.
And that's Tony Frank in a nutshell … professional, sophisticated, yet casual and friendly.
Frank, sporting a suit and tie while lounging on a leather couch, has come a long way in his life. Growing up on an Illinois farm, Frank never dreamed of becoming the president of a University. He almost didn't make it here.
"Watching two brothers go off to college seemed exciting to me and a way to get off the farm, but I got cold feet at the last minute," Frank reminisces.
He wanted to stay home and marry the girl from the dairy farm down the road. His parents helped to sway him back toward college when they told him he could stick around and work on the farm, but he'd have to move out of the house.
"That changed my decision pretty dramatically," he says laughing.
Frank on 'false
choices'
Frank, who was appointed to the position by the CSU System Board of Governors last month, takes a holistic approach when facing his duties and challenges as president. Drawing from his background in pathology, he thinks of CSU like a body, which needs all it's organs to survive. Frank says too much emphasis is placed on making choices.
"I do think we get caught up in false choices too frequently," Frank says, explaining that some decisions are made out of frustration. The university, for example, has limited resources and is often forced to choose between academics and research.
"That's the classic false academic choice. Questioning which side to choose is not a legitimate question," he says. "We have to, because of our mission, do very well at research and teaching is why we exist. There can't be an 'or'."
"You have to pay attention to everything."
Susan James, professor and director of the School of Biomedical Engineering agrees.
"I'm particularly excited to have Tony as pres because I know he is supportive of interdisciplinary education and research and knows how to make these programs work," she said. "It doesn't matter what field you work in, all aspects of academic scholarship are becoming more interdisciplinary."
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