“Linda understands and embraces the mission of the GTU with great enthusiasm, and has a wonderful gift of relating with people,” says GTU President James A. Donahue. “We are fortunate to welcome someone with Linda's skills and commitments to the GTU community.”
Prior to joining the GTU in 2007, Dr. Frank was the Executive Director of the Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation. During her nine-year tenure she managed $26 million in assets, including endowment funds which doubled in size to $18 million.
She has held positions in higher education since 1980. She was Director of Planned and Special Gifts at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California, and Executive Vice President of the Chippewa Valley Technical College Foundation in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Before becoming a development professional, she directed two non-profit organizations: the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) and the Council of Presidents of the New England Land-Grant Universities.
She has extensive knowledge of development and planned giving, and she is a resource and mentor to other development professionals. She was recently recertified as a Certified Specialist in Planned Giving (CSPG), awarded from the California State University, Long Beach. Through the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), she has been a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) since 1997.
Dr. Frank has served as the President of the Network of California Community College Foundations (NCCCF) and the President of the Redwood Empire Estate Planning Council. She also was a Trustee of the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa Foundation and a Director on the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa Board. Recently, Dr. Frank received the NCCCF Eagle Award for her exemplary work and successful achievement in leading a community college foundation.
A native New Yorker, Dr. Frank received her B.A. degree from City College of New York, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Purdue University. Her doctoral dissertation is Bovarysm, Its Concept and Application to Literature: Stendahl, Flaubert, Hardy, Alas, and Lewis.
“I am so pleased,” says Frank, "to serve in the capacity of Vice President for Advancement and provide leadership in continuing a tradition of giving that allows donors to support students, attract world-class faculty, and expand academic resources for pursuing interfaith learning and scholarship.”