Dr. Lia Franklin values the magic of connecting women across higher education.  AMI had a very positive impact on her life, and since then it has fueled her passion to continue to support women in higher education.  She has focused the work of the board by focusing on strategic planning, aligning goals and objectives, getting the right people on board, building infrastructure, and championing communication and branding.  She is passionate about the Colorado and Wyoming connections, the ability to be real and have the tough conversations, and sitting in a room with women who get it – priceless.

Lia Franklin is the Associate Director of the newly created McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Colorado School of Mines.  Prior to moving up to the Denver area, she previously was the MBA Director at Colorado State University-Pueblo.  Lia earned her BA in Marketing and MS in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University and Ph.D. in Educational leadership from University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. Lia is passionate about leadership and supporting women in higher education.  She brings more than 25 years of higher education experience to AMI.