Dr. Frank King Named Associate Vice President for Distance Education

Dr. Franklin L. King

Dr. Franklin L. King, Jacksonville State University professor of instructional media, has been named associate vice president for distance education.

"Several years ago, Dr. King accepted the challenge of overseeing a small but demanding program in a then-new field called distance education," said JSU President William A. Meehan.

"At that time, there were few people qualified to administer such a program on a university level. Now, thanks in large part to Dr. King's initiative and leadership, distance education at JSU has grown up and matured. We anticipate continued strong growth in the area of distance education. I am very pleased to announce that Dr. King, one of the first to pioneer JSU's venture into distance education, is now assuming this important leadership role."

According to Dr. Rebecca O. Turner, vice president for academic and student affairs, "Technology will continue to provide students with improved options for accessing higher education. We believe distance education is not only here to stay but also is going to continually expand as technology makes it easier to pursue a college degree by reducing the need to travel to a physical classroom.

"JSU is truly becoming a university without walls. The university needed someone with Dr. King's experience on the administrative level who understands the online/distance education culture, possibilities, and technology. We are therefore delighted that one of our own has accepted yet another challenge in this field."

Added Turner: "Dr. King's promotion to associate vice president of distance education transforms this important responsibility into an administrative role, which demonstrates JSU's commitment to this area of growth."

A Jacksonville resident, King has worked at JSU for more than 33 years.

King said, "Working at Jacksonville State University has been the most rewarding experience of my professional life. I am very fortunate to have had both a supportive administration and an excellent staff. Whether it was the creation of the communication major or the distance learning initiative, I feel that our joint efforts have benefited both the community and the state."

Along with King's promotion, the university appointed Ms. Sherri Restauri as acting director of distance education. Both appointments became effective November 1.

Over the years, King has established a number of firsts at JSU: he served as the university's first director of non-print media, the first director of the instructional services unit, the first director of the Technical Assistance Center for the Early Childhood Education of the Handicapped, and the first acting head of the communication department. He was also the first director of distance education.

King has extensive experience with various projects involving public schools, including the current Calhoun County fiber optic initiative. He holds M.S. and Ed.D. degrees from Texas A&M University at Commerce (formerly East Texas State University) and a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas, Austin.

King is a charter member of the following organizations at JSU: Phi Delta Kappa, Sigma Delta Chi, Kappa Alpha, and Phi Kappa Phi. King is also a member of various other professional and civic organizations. A Navy veteran, King served in combat in Vietnam and retired with the rank of commander.

King is also a deacon at the Jacksonville Church of Christ. He is married to Christine King, a Jacksonville High School media specialist. He has two sons, James and Frank.

He sails on Lake Guntersville aboard his Bristol 22 sailboat. He is also known for having driven one car the longest period of time to and from Jacksonville State University — a 1969 VW Beatle. He owns a historic home that he rebuilt following the 1994 Palm Sunday tornado.

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