Message from the Dean

We Seek. We Connect. We Create. We Evolve. We Celebrate!  

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Dr. John Pollard, Franke Honors College Interim Dean

W.A. Franke Honors College Interim Dean, Dr. John Pollard

These are the guiding value statements of the W.A. Franke Honors College. But what do they mean in action? They represent our collective and collaborative aspiration to seek new ways of thinking, connect with others, create experiences and knowledge, evolve and grow as humans, and celebrate that growth.  

Our students are our just cause. Each academic year we strive to provide greater opportunities for them to seek, connect, create, evolve, and celebrate, and this year is no exception. We are offering a new dual-degree program, the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation, inspired by the University of Technology Sydney, that layers onto a student's primary major and prepares them to face society’s present and future challenges through experiential learning, engaged critical thinking, and transdisciplinary study. In addition to this new degree, we have unique academic programs exclusively available to Franke Honors students, including our two interdisciplinary minors, Future Earth Resilience and Health and Human Values. These minors are a way for students to explore crucial topics from different perspectives while having an immediate impact through their studies. Last year, we launched our Franke Honors Quest program, creating a pathway for students to get involved in faculty-mentored research as early as their first year in undergrad. This year, we will continue to invest in that program and hope to see many more students participate. We are continuing our impactful PATH mentoring program, where students can connect with and support one another. Our early assurance programs to medical and veterinary school, both unique among Honors Colleges in this country, will be accepting new applicants, providing students a clear path toward realizing their goals.

As Franke Honors Wildcats, students take small classes with the University of Arizona’s top educators, engage in research and creative expression with the University’s top researchers, designers, and artists, experience the world through study abroad, and create lifelong friends through shared experiences. The Franke Honors experience is grounded in the resources of a globally ranked University, while affording those who attend additional opportunities to seek, connect, create, evolve, and celebrate.  

As interim Dean of the W.A. Franke Honors College, I am dedicated to ensuring each member of our Franke Honors community has the opportunities, resources, and support to be their best, achieve their goals, and get the most out of their Franke Honors experience. 

Welcome, and Bear Down!
Dr. John Pollard, PhD, Franke Dean
W.A. Franke Honors College