franf@udel.edu e-mail
302-831-6812 phone/voice-mail
302-831-0450 fax
177 Graham Hall | University of Delaware | Newark, Delaware 19716-7380
Education | Research and Professional Interests | Experience | Memberships | Recent Courses Taught | Training Programs Developed | Selected Presentations | Selected Publications
Person-Centered Planning (Graduate Course), University of Delaware 2002, Newark, Del.
BS, Wilmington College 1997, Human Resource Management (summa cum laude), Trustees' Award for Outstanding Scholarship
AAS, Montgomery County (Pa.) Community College 1974, Psychology (summa cum laude)
special education mediation and IEP facilitation, organizational development and change, team building, collaborative problem-solving, alternative dispute resolution, focus group facilitation, strategic planning, training and coaching, civic engagement, conflict resolution, peer mediation, effective team building, effective meeting design and facilitation, board development
2006-present
Assistant Policy Scientist, Conflict Resolution Program, Institute for Public Administration, University of Delaware
2001-2006
Policy Specialist II, Conflict Resolution Program, Institute for Public Administration, University of Delaware
1999-2001
Principal Consultant, Solutions Unlimited (Wilmington, Del.)
1997-1999
Human Resources Director, Lowe's Companies, Inc. (Wilmington, Del.)
1994-1997
Membership Director, YMCA of Delaware - Central Branch (Wilmington, Del.)
Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR)
National Honor Society in Business, Management, and Administration
Basic Mediation Training
Guest Lecturer: PY201 Educational Psychology, Wesley College, Dover, Del., 2007
LS203 Tort Law, Wesley College, Dover, Del., 2007
Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens (Retreat)
Department of Education, Head Start Collaboration Project (Bi-Annual Self-Assessment Evaluation)
Conflict Resolution Training 4 days (Basic Mediation Training)
Delaware State Human Relations Office (Workshop)
New Castle County Head Start (Retreat)
Delaware Academy for School Leadership (Professional Development/Skill Building)
Municipal Clerks Certification Training (Training)
State Human Relations Office (Retreat Workshop)
New Castle County Head Start (Retreat)
New Castle County Police Department (Community and Neighborhood Mediation Program)
Town of Elsmere, Delaware (Mediation Program for an Incorporated Town)
RCE Communication Enterprises (Naples, Fla.) (Mediation Program for the Corporate and Government Environment)
Understanding the Resources Available to Parents and Teachers for Resolving Special Education “Conflict” Sooner Than Later, Life Conference X, Dover, Del., 2008.
Advancing the Partnership Between Parents & Practitioners, Dover, Del., 2008.
Conflict Resolution Options in Special Education, Brandywine Special Needs PTA, 2008.
Conflict Resolution Options for Parents Who Disagree With Their School District, Webinar, Parent Information Center of Delaware, 2007, 2008.
IEP Meeting Facilitation-Strategies That Work, Third Annual Conference, Resolving Disputes in Educational Settings: Collaboration is Key, Middletown, Conn., 2007.
Conflict Resolution Options in Special Education, Parent Information Center of Delaware, 2007.
Keynote Speaker: IEP Meeting Facilitation: A Trend Moving Beyond Fad, Third Annual Conference, Resolving Disputes in Educational Settings: Collaboration is Key, Middletown, Conn., 2007.
Communication Tips to Use for Life, Annual Delaware Conference for Direct Support Professionals, Dover, Del., 2007.
Conflict Resolution Skills in 75 Minutes? Absolutely!, Conference-Leadership by Default: Balancing Responsibilities of Team Chairs, Norton, Mass., 2007
Keynote Speaker: Conflict and Special Education Don’t Have to go Hand in Hand, Norton, Mass., 2007.
How Special Education for the Amicable Resolution of Conflict (SPARC) Ignited Collaborative Problem Solving for Special Education in Delaware, Inter-American Summit on Conflict Resolution Education, Cleveland, Ohio, 2007.
Head Start Collaboration Project, Bi-Annual Self-Assessment, Delaware Department of Education, April 2008.
Event Planning Resource Guide, Institute for Public Administration, University of Delaware, 2007.
Delaware Today Magazine, Interview for special education article, Greater Expectations, 2007.
Special Education Partnership for the Amicable Resolution of Conflict (SPARC): End of the Year Report, Delaware Department of Education June 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.
Individualized Education Program (IEP) Meeting Facilitation Project, Delaware Department of Education, August 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.
Updating Delaware High School Graduation Requirements, Delaware State Board of Education, 2006.