Robert G. Frank

Frank graduated from Mayfield High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico and received three degrees from UNM. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in 1974. He was a student athlete, lettering four times. In his senior year, he was a co-caption of the men’s swimming team that placed 10th at the NCAA championship. He was named to the 1974 All-American team. He enrolled in the psychology graduate program at UNM and earned M.A. in 1977, and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1979. He is the first UNM President to hold three degrees from the University.[1] He and his wife Janet have two adult children, Daniel and Brian as well as two dogs, Coach and Lobo.

Frank served as the Provost and Senior Vice President at Kent State University in Ohio. Before his tenure at Kent State University, he was the Dean of the College of Public Health and Health Professions in the University of Florida. On January 4, 2012, the University of New Mexico Board of Regents voted unanimously to name him their 21st President. He was officially inaugurated as President on November 18, 2012. On December 7, 2016, the Board of Regents called a special meeting to discuss firing or suspending Frank for creating a hostile work environment within the Office of the President.[2] Six days later, Frank threatened to sue the board for defamation on grounds that internal reports were leaked to the press. Later on the 13th, Frank and the Board of Regents reached an agreement wherein Frank would withdraw his threat and leave his position at the end of the month, a year before the natural end of his term.[3] The then provost Chaouki Abdallah was appointed interim president.