Spring 2020 Robert L. Bailey Teaching Award Recipients Announced

Contact:

Sherry Mercurio
Executive Director, Office of Community Relations
(614) 947-6581
Email: sherry.mercurio@franklin.edu

Franklin University, one of the leading educators of working adults in central Ohio, celebrates its 164th Virtual Commencement on Friday, June 12 at 7 p.m. (EDT). Along with honoring the graduates, Franklin recognizes Jerome Council and Michael Henson, from its faculty as recipients of the distinguished Robert L. Bailey Teaching Award.

Congratulations to this trimester’s recipients: Jerome Council, undergraduate faculty and Michael Henson graduate faculty.

Jerome C. Council has been an adjunct faculty member at Franklin University since 2005. A three-time winner of Franklin University’s Teaching Excellence Award, he teaches both undergraduate and graduate-level business courses.

A Detroit native, Jerome served in the U.S. Navy as assistant top secret control officer in the COMFAIRWESTPAC communications group stationed in Japan. During his more than five-year stint in the county Jerome was stationed at two different bases and built his fluency in Japanese.

After studying graphic design at Columbus College of Art and Design and marketing at The Ohio State University, Jerome earned his bachelor’s degree, as well as his MBA from Franklin University.

Prior to his retirement after nearly three decades at Honda, Jerome held several leadership roles in profit and loss, as well as new model cost planning.

Michael Henson has been an adjunct professor at Franklin University since 2016. He has taught courses in risk management, corporate finance and business communications. During his time at Franklin, he’s also re-written two risk management courses. Mike’s style is that of a coach, facilitator, encourager and mentor, whether he is facilitating learning with students or at work with the associates he mentors.

Mike earned his bachelor’s degree, as well as his MBA from Franklin University. In addition to many insurance and leadership designations, he holds the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Mike has been with Nationwide Insurance for more than 40 years, where he is currently a director in Property and Casualty (P&C) Finance. In addition to previously serving on the board of directors for multiple companies, he volunteers at Grant Hospital, Life Care Alliance, and the United Way of Central Ohio.

About the Robert L. Bailey Teaching Award
Each trimester, two faculty members are honored with the Robert L. Bailey Teaching Award. Graduating students are asked to identify one undergraduate and one graduate faculty member who had the most significant influence on them throughout their educational experience at Franklin University. The award recognizes those who have challenged students intellectually and guided them in finding the significance of the course content as it relates to them both personally and professionally. 

While more than 100 graduate and undergraduate faculty members are nominated each trimester – clearly showing the magnitude of interaction between students and faculty at Franklin University – the faculty members receiving the most nominations are awarded this honor. 

These awards are funded through an endowment established by State Auto Insurance Companies in recognition of Robert L. Bailey, who served State Auto for 28 years in various positions, including President, CEO, and Chairman, until his retirement in 2000. Bailey is also a past Chair and a Trustee Emeritus of Franklin University’s Board of Trustees. 
 

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).