College of Arts and Sciences

Bernard Franklin, Ph.D., ’76, ‘96

Bernard Franklin is Executive Director of Kauffman Scholars, Inc. in Kansas City, MO. This is a unique program funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to move semi-motivated seventh graders in metro Kansas City to high school graduation and then support them to college graduation, so they can reach their destiny in a productive future.

Franklin is the former pastor of City Church, a cross-cultural church in urban Kansas City, which he and his wife founded. He has a private counseling practice, which includes athletes of the Kansas City Chiefs, and their families.

Previously, Franklin had served as Vice President and Urban Director of the National Center for Fathering from 1996 to 1999, where he directed education efforts to urban men. In 1998, he was honored as one the 100 Most Influential African Americans in Kansas City. The Morehouse College Research Institute also presented him the Vision Award for his pioneering work in the area of educating men on the importance of fatherhood. Franklin is the father of three sons and a daughter.