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President Norman C. Francis '52

Dr. Norman C. Francis and Xavier are virtually synonymous.

As president of the nation's only historically Black, Catholic university since 1968, Francis has guided Xavier's growth both in size and dimension. During his tenure, the University has more than doubled its enrollment, broadened its curriculum, expanded its campus, and strengthened its financial base. Its tradition of academic excellence has been further enhanced.

Francis, the longest-sitting university president in the US, has been at Xavier for more than five decades as a student and administrator. He is credited with being the catalyst for nearly every building constructed on the campus during the past 39 years. The campus itself has been physically enlarged with the acquisition of the adjacent properties to the East and West of the original main campus. 

Among the major accomplishments of Francis' tenure has been the successful completion of Xavier's first two capital campaigns. The Forward Fund drive netted more than $19 million, enough to build the new academic/science complex and renovate existing areas. A second campaign – the Future Fund – netted $51 million, which funded the building of the Library/Resource Center and College of Pharmacy addition and tripled the University's endowment to more than $54 million.

Giving by alumni has increased dramatically, recently surpassing the $1 million mark. Student enrollment has surged to 4,000.

All of this growth has not been at the expense of academia, however. Through his leadership, the University has instituted a core curriculum and mandatory comprehensives, and has become nationally recognized as a leader in minority education. 

According to the US Department of Education, Xavier continues to rank first nationally in the number of African American students earning undergraduate degrees in the biology and the life sciences, chemistry, physics and pharmacy. Xavier is one of only six schools chosen to participate in the National Science Foundation’s Model Institutions for Excellence in Science, Engineering and Mathematics program.

Xavier has been especially successful in educating health professionals. In pre-medical education, Xavier is first in the nation in placing African American students into medical schools, where it has been ranked for the past 13 years. The acceptance rate of Xavier graduates by medical schools is almost twice the national average, and 92% of those who enter medical schools complete their degree programs.

The College of Pharmacy, one of only two pharmacy schools in Louisiana, is among the nation's top three producers of African American Doctor of Pharmacy degree recipients.

Named by his peers as one of the 100 most effective college and university leaders, Francis is often cited for his involvement in the community and his work on the national, state and local level to improve education.  

Francis enjoys a prestigious national reputation, of which Xavier is a primary beneficiary. He has served in an advisory role to five presidential administrations-- including the historic National Commission on Excellence in Education, which issued the “Nation at Risk” – in addition to serving on 54 boards and commissions. In 2007 he was named recipient of the nation’s highest civil award: The Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has received 37 honorary degrees – most recently from St. John’s University (NY) and Brown University – and 17 major awards – including the Times-Picayune "Loving Cup" in recognition of his unselfish service to the New Orleans' community.

Among Francis' civic endeavors, he is chair of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, immediate past chair of the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, immediate past Chair of the Southern Education Foundation, chairman of the board of Liberty Bank and Trust and a member of the Times-Picayune Advisory Board. In the past he has been chairman of the New Orleans Aviation Board, the Metropolitan Area Committee Education Fund and the board of directors of WLAE-TV. 

On the national level, Francis' activities include serving as past chairman of the boards of the Educational Testing Service, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, The College Board, the Southern Education Foundation and the American Association of Higher Education. In the past he was member president of the UNCF, a member of the Board of Trustees of Catholic University, and chairman of SACS, the southern regional accrediting agency for more than 11,000 institutions in 11 states.