Our #LeaderBear this week is the wonderful Francine Pratt. Mrs. Pratt graduated with a degree in Business Management and has worked with our Distinction in Public Affairs program here at Missouri State in the past. She currently works for the university as Executive Director of Multicultural Programs and the Multicultural Resource Center. For those who don’t know, the MRC is located behind Starbucks in the Plaster Student Union. This space is a great area for students to hangout, study, have conversations, and just generally be comfortable. On Tuesday of this week Springfield voters elected Pratt to the city’s school board! We are so proud to have her at Missouri State and representing us in the community.

In her position on campus Francine has worked with multicultural students to make improvements to the Multicultural Center and to promote a welcoming environment. She also hosts courageous conversations to help students, faculty and community members understand each either in regards to Ferguson and other related issues. Beyond our campus, Mrs. Pratt has worked with the community to obtain Lumina Foundation grant to increase access and equity to higher education attainment for historically underrepresented groups. Pratt is the advisor for MODES Bridge Springfield: Brother to Brother Program as well as a coach and mentor for several students on and off campus.

Her advice for students:

“Engage in more face to face conversations to enhance interpersonal skills. They will keep learning and taking in new information as long as they are on this earth. Therefore, listen, learn, analyze and act!”