Senior Fellow, Montgomery College
Dr. Frank Ross has dedicated 30 years to advancing the power of education to shape lives, strengthen communities, and expand opportunity. He has held senior administrative and faculty roles at a diverse range of colleges and universities where he has led mission-aligned strategies to improve student outcomes, foster institutional excellence, and drive organizational transformation.
In addition to his impact within higher education, Dr. Ross has collaborated across sectors—with community partners, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies—to address pressing challenges in mental health, college access, and student success. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to equity, innovation, and sustainable impact across education and community systems.
Dr. Ross’s career is marked by contributions to public service and civic engagement. He has been actively involved with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) American Democracy Project, NASPA’s Civic Learning & Democratic Engagement initiative, and the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities. He was named a Strategic Civic Leader Fellow by Campus Compact and the McCormick Foundation. Currently, he serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Clinton School of Public Service.
He has earned widespread recognition for his leadership and research, including honors from NASPA, the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience, the National Academic Advising Association, the American College Personnel Association, and the American Association of Colleges & Universities. Dr. Ross was the 2016 recipient of the Robert H. Shaffer Distinguished Alumni Award from Indiana University, and in 2025 he was named a “Pillar of the Profession” by the NASPA Foundation.
Dr. Ross earned a PhD in higher education from Indiana University, master’s degrees in adult and community education from Ball State University and student affairs in higher education from Western Kentucky University, and a Certificate in Fundraising Management from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. He also completed the Higher Education Management Development program at Harvard University.