Baker Proud Summer 2018 - 23

BAKER PROUD | Summer 2018 23

...becoming a leader in my field
"My education has confirmed that the principles by which I
lead others are on the right track and no one will be able to
take that away from me." -Lenard Franklin
A Devastating Setback
Mona and Lenard know loss. Shortly after Mona and
Lenard met, Mona's father passed away. And just one
week later, Lenard lost his father. And just a year later,
Mona's mother passed away.
What they learned was that loss could not deter them
from pushing forward. That was tested again when weeks
into his MAOL program, Lenard and Mona lost a son.
This time, instead of pushing through unaccompanied,
they found they didn't have to grieve alone. In one of
their darkest times, Lenard and Mona were humbled by
the support of the Baker family. The outpouring of care,
love, and support from the Baker community helped push
Lenard through the program and past the grief.
"I will never forget how the Baker staff made me feel
at a time when I should have been the lowest in my life,"
Lenard said. "I think my work and accomplishments at
Baker would have made my son proud."
Pushing Forward
Despite their loss, Lenard was committed to transforming himself through education. He decided that for his
other three children, he would continue to make education a priority.
"Baker has helped to illuminate a path of growth
through education," he said. "Our children get to see the
dividends of education as they watch us complete our
degrees. Through our experience at Baker, we can show
our children the difference between how being smart can

get you through life, but being educated can lift you onto a
higher path."
Mona, who serves as the director of human resources
at Haskell Indian Nations University, said she is probably
more excited for Lenard's graduation than he is. For her,
education inspired her to make a difference in the world.
By watching Lenard grow and succeed, she realized that
being the inspiration for him to succeed was the difference
she had been wanting to make.
"Watching my husband diligently chip away at his academic studies continues to bring me great pride because I
know the payoff," Mona said. "I knew he was a success story waiting to happen and because of this, I am extremely
proud of my husband."
For Lenard, earning both his associate and bachelor's
was a way to stick to the promise he made to himself 25
years ago to earn a college degree. But it was his career
that pushed him to pursue a master's in organizational
leadership degree. Lenard, who works with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, aspired to feel confident as a
leader and have the credentials to prove his expertise. He
believes his degrees have done just that.
"My education has confirmed that the principles by
which I lead others are on the right track and no one will
be able to take that away from me," he said. "I know that
not only does how I lead people feel right, but it is also being taught at a well-reputed university like Baker. I cannot
express how empowering that feels."

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Baker Proud Summer 2018