About President Franklin
Dr. Franklin, who became Des Moines University’s 15th president in the spring of 2011, has worked in higher education for more than 25 years. Previously, she was executive vice president and provost at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, where she oversaw academic and administrative departments. She held a professorship in Meharry’s department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.
Angela L. Walker Franklin, a native of McCormick, South Carolina, is a Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude graduate of Furman University. A licensed clinical psychologist, she completed her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Emory University, followed by a year-long clinical internship at Grady Memorial Hospital.
Advancing a vision and moving a lot of dirt
The sweet smell of hay wafted on the breeze and birdsong filled the air on a recent partly cloudy morning in West Des Moines. On an 88-acre site that was mostly spent cornfields, a pheasant was startled into flight by …
DMU stands in solidarity with White Coats for Black Lives
More than 250 Des Moines University students, faculty and staff – wearing masks and practicing physical distancing – gathered on campus on Friday to demonstrate solidarity in accepting the shared responsibility of protecting people of all backgrounds by addressing racism …
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DMU is nation’s first medical school to require mental health course
In 2018, Des Moines University became the nation’s first medical school to partner with the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), the nation’s leading advocacy group for mental illness, to offer its provider education program to third-year osteopathic medical students. All medical schools train …
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DMU donors top $25 million Purple & Proud Campaign goal
On Dec. 8, 2018, DMU launched the public phase of “Purple & Proud – the Campaign for Des Moines University,” a $25 million fundraising effort and the largest such endeavor in the University’s history. It is set to conclude in …
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DMU: driven by hunger
Even though America is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, millions of adults and children face hunger and food insecurity every day. According to USDA’s Household Food Insecurity in the United States in 2018 report, more than 37 …
DMU selected physical therapy and sports performance partner for MidAmerican Energy RecPlex
The City of West Des Moines and Des Moines University (DMU) announced a partnership today that makes DMU Clinic Physical Therapy the exclusive provider of physical therapy and athletic training services for the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex currently under construction …
DMU, community celebrate the power of education at Glanton Dinner
Nearly 400 central Iowa community members came together Oct. 16 to highlight the importance of diversity and inclusion at Des Moines University’s 16th annual Glanton Dinner. The event generates financial support for the University’s Glanton Fund, which was established in …
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Imagining a university for the future
Des Moines University is seizing a rare opportunity: creating a brand new medical and health sciences campus on a blank slate of central Iowa farmland. FROM PARKING PROPOSAL TO BOLD ADVENTURE What began in December 2018 as a modest proposal …
Kudos for DMU Day at the Iowa State Fair
Rain fell on the Iowa State Fair on Sunday, Aug. 11, but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of fair-goers for DMU Day at the event. They enjoyed the 94 osteopathic manual medicine and physical therapy demonstrations performed by 49 student …
DMU President Franklin among leaders featured in new book
Early in her 20-plus-year career in higher education, Angela L. Walker Franklin, Ph.D., developed a reputation as “the VOR – the voice of reason” – who was the go-to person for getting things done. The more her career evolved, though, …
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DMU supports HF 532
Each year Des Moines University establishes a legislative agenda. These are the issues we are committed to focusing on for the upcoming legislative session, developed with input from the DMU Executive Leadership Team. This year one of our priorities identified …
DMU announces $25 million capital campaign
Des Moines University, a graduate medical and health sciences university, on Dec. 8 announced it has begun the public phase of the largest capital campaign in the institution’s history with a goal to raise $25 million or more. To date, …
DMU, community celebrate Glanton Fund’s 15th anniversary
Fifteen years ago, a small group of community members met to discuss how they could open opportunities and foster diversity at Des Moines University. They established a fund at DMU that would generate scholarships for minority students under-represented in health …
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Seven years’ strong
In March, Angela L. Walker Franklin, Ph.D., marked her seventh year as DMU’s 15th president and has only stepped up the cadence. Here, she reflects on her tenure and continuing priorities for the University. Raised in McCormick, SC, inthe segregated …
We have to start somewhere on addressing mental illness. DMU did.
We have to start somewhere on addressing mental illness. DMU did. The dire lack of access to mental health care represents a moral, medical and financial catastrophe worldwide. To tackle this enormous crisis, DMU decided to start somewhere: It is …
We have to start somewhere on addressing mental illness. DMU did. Read More
DMU announces 2018 Glanton honorees, presenting sponsor
When Des Moines University hosts its 15th annual Glanton Dinner on Oct. 25, it also will honor two individuals whose generosity and service are widely evident in Iowa and far beyond: John and Mary Pappajohn. Presented this year by Mercy …
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DMU, NAMI partner to educate students on mental illness
This spring, DMU became the nation’s first medical school to partner with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s leading advocacy group for mental illness, to offer NAMI’s provider education program to osteopathic medical students. That led to an …
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DMU: proud to partner in improving mental health care
Des Moines University is inspired and grateful to partner with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Mid-Iowa Health Foundation to meet a growing need for compassionate, accessible mental health care in the state. Today, that effort advanced …
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Changing of the Guard
I have come to have considerable respect for an organization called the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) which is the premier organization centered on governance in higher education. AGB provides leadership and counsel to member boards, chief executives, and others …
The Unlikely Choice May Be Chosen
Today I have been reflecting on the challenges of leadership and just how difficult it can be when politics enter into those decisions. In my book, “The Unconventional Journey..the Unlikely Choice “, I described my aspirations for leadership in higher …
The DMU Triangle
One very important role for any college/university president is fund raising. There are always needs and never enough funding to accomplish all that we want to do for our organizations. At Des Moines University (DMU), we have a carefully articulated …
DMU president receives special APA award
As a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Emory University, Angela Walker Franklin was selected for the Minority Fellowship Program of the American Psychological Association (APA), a comprehensive training, mentoring and career development program that helps promising students achieve lasting …
Another record breaking year for the Employee Campaign
When Des Moines University’s faculty and staff are asked to give back, they continuously dig deeper each year during the Employee Campaign. Throughout the two-week campaign, employees share their pride in the University and its efforts to prepare tomorrow’s health care workforce. This …
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US Presidential Executive Order on Immigration Travel
Dear DMU Campus Community, Transitions in leadership are always filled with emotion on all sides. As decisions are made it is important that we all remain steadfast in the basic principles that define this university. However, given the response to …
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Coming together for a day of unity
More than 200 Des Moines University students, faculty and staff gathered on campus today to stand together in support of our first ever DMU Day of Unity. Students decided to coordinate a Day of Unity in light of an increasingly …
Watch Your Back
My husband, Thaddeus, and I are traveling and as we typically do….if we have time, we will grab local transit to go explore an area. We were waiting for a trolley and he sits down on the bench to wait. …
DMU President Franklin to speak at leadership conference
According to its website, Iowa Women Lead Change (IWLC) is the state’s premier leadership organization for women, offering comprehensive leadership resources including events featuring prominent speakers, frequent networking opportunities, and other important services to advance women’s leadership in all aspects …
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Clear Communications
I am a strong proponent of clear, authentic communications. One of the great challenges of leadership, however, is making sure messages are conveyed and received clearly. Unfortunately, there is a tendency sometimes for communications to be misconstrued and misinterpreted. So …
Des Moines University gains a Glanton Presenting Sponsor in Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Des Moines University announced today that Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield will be the Presenting Sponsor of DMU’s 2016 Glanton Dinner. Wellmark is a mutual insurance company based in Des Moines that provides health coverage to more than two million …
Heating up on the course
Hot, hot, hot! It was a sweltering day but not a single person could complain about having to lace up some golf shoes and spend the day out on the course. On June 10, over 40 alumni, students and friends …
Publications
An Unconventional Journey: An Unlikely Choice
by Angela L. Walker Franklin, Ph.D.
This is a story of perseverance and awakening.
Angela Walker Franklin's journey evolved from self-doubt and trepidation into a purpose-driven life that led her to a college presidency in a most unlikely place. The lessons learned along the way have defined her current approach to leadership and should be inspirational to others who are trying to chart their own path. Order your copy today.
Now is The Time; Des Moines is the Place: A History of Des Moines University
by Lee Anderson, PH. D.; Kathy Penningroth
Des Moines University has survived against the odds for more than 100 years and successfully built a legacy of excellence in health sciences education.
Throughout those years, there are stories of virtue, vision and hope, as well as episodes of questioned leadership, meager resources and frayed credibility. DMUs history is intertwined with the history of osteopathic medicine and the development of the health care industry in the United States.
This book covers the years 1898 to 2003, illustrating in each chapter how effective leaders can advance an institution and how committed faculty, loyal students and a generous community can defy the odds against success. Order your copy today.
Speaking Engagements
President Franklin speaks regularly to both the DMU campus and Des Moines communities and organizations on topics ranging from leadership to current health care issues.
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2018 White Coat Ceremony
September, 2018 | Download Speech -
Inaugural Address
September, 2011 | Download Speech