Lance Franklin named director of environmental, health and safety services

Lance Franklin, director and radiation safety officer in the Office of Environmental Health and Safety in the Division of Research at Wayne State University, has been named director of environmental health and safety services at Virginia Tech.

He will begin his position at Virginia Tech Aug. 4.

Reporting to Sherwood Wilson, the vice president for administrative services, Franklin will lead the Department of Environmental, Health and Safety Services. The department is responsible for maintaining a safe campus environment by assuring university activities are conducted in compliance with applicable policy and regulatory laws and by supporting the development, implementation, and monitoring of prevention control strategies and initiatives. The department assists departments with complying with safety regulations and mandates.

In addition to the Blacksburg campus, the department also covers university operations at the National Capital Region, state-wide agricultural research centers, the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center and other facilities owned or occupied by Virginia Tech nationally and internationally.

“We are thrilled to have someone of Dr. Franklin’s caliber join us,” said Wilson. “His experience and education are perfect, and he will be a great addition to Virginia Tech and our outstanding team of leaders.”

Franklin received his bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees, and a Ph.D. from Wayne State University. He began his professional career as a researcher in Chrysler Motor Corporation's Toxicology Department. For more than 15 years, he was the director of environmental health and safety at Wayne State where he also held the academic rank of adjunct professor in their College of Engineering.

Franklin has served as a member of the executive board for the Children's Institute of Michigan, Wayne State’s Environmental Health Academic Advisory Committee, and the National Safety Council's Campus Safety Association. In addition, he served as the chair of Wayne State’s Environmental Sustainability Committee.

Among his honors, Franklin and Wayne State’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety were the recipients of the Complete Program Award of Honor by the National Safety Council's Campus Safety Division, and the Wayne State University's President Quality Service Award. He is also a State of Michigan King Chavez Park Scholar.

He is a member of the Institute of Hazardous Material Management, the National Safety Council, the American Chemical Society, and the Society of Research Administrators.

Franklin has been married for 21 years and has two sons.