Two Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College campus vice presidents have been chosen for the Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished College Administrator award.  Dr. Cedric Bradley, vice president of the Harrison County Campus, and Dr. Tammy Franks, vice president of the Jackson County Campus, were nominated by their Phi Theta Kappa chapters for the award and were selected in recognition of their outstanding support of student leadership and success.  The award recognizes college administrators working directly with student leaders to solve problems on campus and in their communities. It also recognizes their active interest in supporting high-achieving students and developing student leaders.

Bradley and Franks are two of 28 college administrators nationwide who will be recognized during PTK Catalyst 2022, the society’s annual convention in Denver, Colo., Apr. 7-9.

“I am extremely honored to receive the Distinguished College Administrator award,” Bradley said. “To be nominated by our students here at Gulf Coast is extremely rewarding; however, without the hard work of these students and their advisors, none of this would be possible.”

Bradley graduated from Meridian Community College in 2002 and received degrees from The University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State University. He began working at MGCCC in 2014 as dean of Teaching and Learning at the Jackson County Campus and became vice president of the Harrison County Campus, Keesler Center and Naval Construction Battalion Center in 2018.  He was recently awarded the Interdisciplinary Studies and Professional Development Community Partnership award from The University of Southern Mississippi (2021) and was chosen for the 2021-22 class of the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship.

“I’ve enjoyed working with our outstanding PTK students and getting to know them over the years,” said Franks. “Being actively involved in PTK has allowed them to grow as leaders and distinguishes them among their peers as they move toward the next phase of their education and careers.  The guidance they receive from their PTK advisors is immeasurable. I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition from this organization that provides so many resources to our students.”

Franks holds an Associate of Arts (A.A.) from MGCCC, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Administration and Ph.D. in Higher Education from The University of Southern Mississippi along with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from William Carey University.  Franks began her career at MGCCC 23 years ago in the Business Services division and moved into Administration in 2006, serving as Dean of Business Services. She has been leading the Jackson County Campus in her current role since 2016.  She is past participant of Leadership Jackson County, Community College Fellows Program, Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy and is a current participant of AACC’s Commission on Research and Community College Trends and Issues.