Frances I. Bennett is a graduate of West Virginia University. Frances earned degrees in Journalism and History, and while a student, was active in student government and state politics. She was the first out-of-state student to be elected to serve as the student representative to the state’s governing board for higher education, the Board of Trustees. She was selected as one of the 1993-1994 District 7530 Ambassadorial Scholars. Frances spent her year abroad in Host District 1210 in Staffordshire, England where she earned her masters degree in Political Communications from Keele University.

Upon her return to the United States, Frances began working as an Admissions Counselor for West Virginia University. She served in various roles in the recruitment and admissions arena, and became a national consultant for Education Systems, assisting colleges and universities with their recruitment of, and communication with, prospective students.

Frances earned her masters in Counseling from WVU in 2001 and is a National Certified Counselor. She switched her focus from recruitment to retention when she joined the Student Support Services staff in the same year. SSS is a federally-funded program, which helps students overcome social, cultural and academic barriers to earning an undergraduate degree. The program assists students who are the first in their families to go to college, meet income-eligibility requirements, and/or have a disability.

While her primary focus is helping her SSS students develop, grow, and reach their goals and dreams, during the summers Frances also helps low-income high school students prepare for the college application process by working with College Summit as a Writing Coach and Writing Coach Coordinator. She also serves on the WVU School of Journalism Alumni Association Board, and has served on the board of the West Virginia Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel.

In 2003, Frances rekindled her relationship with Rotary and joined the Rotary Club of Morgantown, her sponsoring club for the Ambassadorial Scholarship. Bill Collins, the former District 7530 Scholarship Chair, and a fellow former Ambassadorial Scholar, was her sponsoring Rotarian. Frances has been active with many club projects, including the community soup kitchen, Grads Up All Night for area graduating high school seniors, and various events with the Morgantown Club’s Partner in Education school, Clay-Battelle High School. The Morgantown Club recognized her with “Service Above Self” award in 2004-2005, and she was elected to the Morgantown Club’s Board of Directors in 2005-2006. She began serving as co-chair for the District Scholarships in 2005-2006, and joined the RLI Faculty in 2007.