Joe Franklin, an academic advisor for the College of Arts and Science, has joined the Department of Geography as the department’s undergraduate advisor.

He will be working, for now, out of 109 Lowry and can be reached by email at jpfranklin@missouri.edu. He will continue his work in A&S, while advising geography students on classes, enrollment and other needs. He will work with geography majors and minors, and will meet with prospective students and talk to them about the geography program.

‘It’s an interesting program,” he says. “I’m really excited to be a part of the program.””

Other duties include answering inquiries about transferring into program from community colleges and other universities, changing majors, navigating the program, and more.

He has been with MU in A&S since June 2019, where he does online general studies and interdisciplinary studies degrees.

Prior he worked at State Fair Community College in Sedalia as an academic advisor, advising students in agricultural programs., welding, electronics, computer science, among other things. A life-long Missouri resident, he grew up in Sedalia, and moved to Columbia in August 2019.

Prior to becoming an academic advisor for State Fair Community College, he worked in the tech industry for about 20 years.

He has a BS in General Studies, and two graduate degrees — one in aviation safety and one in educational technology. He also has an associate degree in Arts. He’s taught online courses: Aviation Law, Aviation Ethics, Flight Ops Management using online teaching delivery systems and in traditional face-to-face classroom instruction.  

“Mizzou has a wide diversity of educational programs which is attractive to students, staff, and educators. Everyone on campus is currently shifting or has shifted to online learning. Additionally, staff has converted to online student support.  [Mizzou] has a strong sense of community and a professional, responsive support system.”

In his spare time, Franklin collects Marvel comic books and attends regional and national comic book conventions. He has been an avid collector for more than 30 years.