Franklin selected as USI Honorary Doctor of Laws degree recipient

Neal Franklin is receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for her passion, leadership and profound dedication to advancing higher education at the University of Southern Indiana.

With over a decade of service on the USI Foundation Board of Directors, Neal has been a driving force behind the University's strategic advancement. Her deep commitment to USI has been acknowledged through several accolades, including the Honorary Alumni Award in 2023, the Suzanne A. Nicholson Leadership Award in 2019 and induction into the President's Circle in 2017.

In addition to accolades, Neal contributes her time and expertise to the University's Art Collection Committee, fostering the cultural and artistic endeavors of the institution.

A dedicated supporter of USI Athletics, Neal recently marked her 26th year as a season ticket holder for USI Basketball, embodying the spirit of Screaming Eagle pride.

In March 2023, Neal, former Chair of the USI Society for Arts and Humanities, made a generous gift of $25,000 to underwrite the University's Art Collection Digitization Project, extending its reach to a virtual, global audience. She also has an estate gift in place to support USI Theatre.
Her substantial financial commitment to the University, exceeding $300,000 through the USI Foundation and an established estate gift, underscores her dedication to its sustained success.

Neal actively champions the arts and humanities in the region, with her significant impact on the community's cultural landscape recognized in 2013 when she received the Mayor's Arts Award. She continues to generously fund the USI Philip H. Hagemann Performing Arts Department and its Music Program through several initiatives, including contributing to the purchasing of Steinway & Sons pianos on campus and underwriting a portion of Ruth, the inaugural opera held on campus, in 2024.

Beyond her contributions to the University, Neal is a prominent figure in various community organizations, including the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra and its Guild, the Public Education Foundation and the Women's Fund of the Vanderburgh County Community Foundation. Her dedication extends far beyond the academic realm, leaving a lasting mark on multiple fronts.

She earned a bachelor's degree in political science and French from Vassar College.