Dr. Franklin is Assistant Dean for Doctoral Education and Professor and holder of the Stiernberg/Spencer Family Professorship in Mental Health at The University of Texas at Austin, School of Social Work where she is also a fellow of the Dropout Institute for the Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk. Dr. Franklin has been a mental health therapist, researcher and clinical consultant to schools and mental health agencies. Her research examines the effectiveness of solution-focused brief therapy with children, adolescents and families.

Based on her research, Dr. Franklin helped create a solution-focused high school, Gonzolo Garza Independence High School in Austin, Texas that has been highly acclaimed as a model school for dropout prevention including receiving recognition from the United States Department of Education. Through out her life Dr. Franklin has been an owner and lover of horses. She received her first pony named Peanut when she was only three years old and that was the beginning of a life long journey with horses where she has witnessed first hand how horses contribute to one’s mental well being and sense of community. Click here for more information on Dr. Franklin.