Chris Franklin balances many unofficial roles in Oklahoma State University’s Center for the Future of Work.

Coworkers say he’s the office dad, starting each morning with a warm smile and a delightfully cheesy joke. He’s the resident weatherman keeping his teammates safe and updated on Oklahoma’s fluctuating forecasts.

He’s also the sports fan who bleeds orange, joining the crowd at Theta Pond to celebrate the Cowboy football team’s thrilling upset of Oregon this fall. While some fans jumped into the water, Franklin graciously protected a student’s phone, wallet and cap from getting splashed or stepped on.

Franklin wears every hat while excelling at his job as a program specialist in the CFW, but his Spears School of Business colleagues found something he won’t do.

Brag about himself.

“He is selfless, in all sense of the word,” said Maci Inselman, CFW program manager. “He is kind, funny and present.”

Franklin doesn’t have to tell people about his kindness for the Cowboy family to see it. He is the first winner of the Living the Cowboy Code Award on the OSU-Stillwater campus, nominated by his CFW colleagues.

Dr. Jim Hess, OSU's president, awarded Franklin on Sept. 21 at the strategic plan launch event in the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. With an inaugural recipient on the Stillwater campus and one on each branch campus, the award celebrates employees who exemplify the Cowboy Code through leadership, service and engagement.

The code’s second tenet is, “Being a Cowboy isn’t in our clothes. It’s in our character.”

Franklin’s routine involves choosing his work outfits at the start of each week, but his compassion stands out more than his spiffy ties. It defines his way of life as a coworker, community member and father of four.

How does Franklin live the Cowboy Code at work?

When professionals travel to the Business Building for a CFW conference, Franklin is often the first person they see. Rain or shine, he stands on the steps to welcome attendees and guide them to the correct location.

They might not realize each greeting is the culmination of Franklin’s thorough planning that started months earlier. He is one of two program specialists in the CFW, an outward-facing Spears Business center that offers customized training, industry conferences and certificate programs for workforce development.

Between in-person and virtual programs, the CFW serves thousands of employees each year. Participants represent the Cherokee Nation, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Tinker Air Force Base and other major employers across Oklahoma and the United States.

From helping with registration to organizing conference materials, Franklin diligently works behind the scenes to bring these programs to life.

“He is so hardworking and detailed,” program coordinator Bri Day said. “He will notice if the littlest thing has changed, and he will make sure it’s corrected so that everything goes smoothly. He’s always thinking ahead of how he can make sure that everything gets done on time.”

It doesn’t matter whether the task is in his job description. If his team needs a hand, Franklin is there. Lindsey Ray, CFW assistant director, said Franklin has brought tools from his house to take care of various repairs and odd jobs in the office.

Since joining the CFW in April 2023, Franklin has not only strengthened his workplace but also contributed to the campus community as an advocate for students.

Franklin is a Cowboys Care Ambassador for mental health support, an avid collector of Pete’s Pet Posse cards, a certified LGBTQ+ Safe Zone ally and a Supporting Students staff member trained on navigating crisis situations and connecting students with basic needs resources.

Although the CFW isn’t a student-facing center, Franklin sees these certifications as simply doing his part. He knows what it’s like to deal with anxiety, and he never wants students or colleagues to feel alone on campus when he could make a difference.

“If there’s going to be an opportunity provided to do something, take that opportunity and try to develop yourself, or make yourself better,” Franklin said. “Then, you can translate that into doing good for other people.”

Not every act of kindness has to be a grand gesture. Sometimes, a simple check-in makes the greatest impact on peers like Destiny Arrowood, a first-year OSU employee and CFW program specialist alongside Franklin.

“I moved here by myself,” Arrowood said. “I didn’t know anyone, and I remember the first person asking me how I was doing and how I was adjusting to the move was Chris. He’s one of the most genuine and nicest people I’ve ever met in my entire life.”

How does Franklin live the Cowboy Code in his community?

Franklin has called Stillwater home for 28 years.

He grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and moved to Oklahoma City in junior high. But, his heart is in Stillwater, where he and his wife, OSU alumna Pascha Franklin, have raised their four daughters.

America’s Greatest Homecoming and The Mid South, Stillwater’s marquee cycling and endurance running festival, are two of his favorite traditions.

“If heaven is like Homecoming weekend and The Mid South finish line, I will be happy,” Franklin said. “That whole idea of connection and home means a lot.”

Franklin builds connections through investing in the community, and his currency is time. Each year, he volunteers with Spears Business coworkers on the United Way of Payne County Day of Caring, painting houses and beautifying flower beds for Stillwater residents.

For Franklin, “Day of Caring” could also describe any other day in his life.

He has devoted hours to causes that include Into the Streets, the Remember the Ten Run, the restoration of Stillwater’s Washington School building and, of course, volunteering at The Mid South.

He loves supporting the city and socializing at Block 34 events. Even an ordinary Walmart run is a chance for Franklin to brighten someone’s day. Kelli Jo Todd, outreach program coordinator in the CFW, said she went with Franklin to buy supplies for an event and watched him run into many people he knows, stopping to greet and hug each one.

“With Chris’ level of engagement across campus and across the city, I don’t know when he sleeps,” said Dr. Marc Tower, Spears Business assistant dean of outreach and economic development.

Perhaps it’s Franklin’s meticulously planned routine that keeps him going. If you ask him, he credits Pete’s Pet Posse for boosting his energy.

"The dogs are a big fulfillment for me,” Franklin said. “I'm glad they have a program like that here because you see its benefit."

Yes, the therapy dogs give him extra happiness at work, but there’s a deeper source behind his positivity.

Franklin has an unwavering belief that humans should care about other humans.

“If the person next to me needs something, then I’m going to give them that,” Franklin said. “And then, I’ll take care of myself.”

Once, an OSU vehicle needed a tire change outside the Business Building.

When someone from OSU Motor Pool showed up, they realized the job was already done. Franklin, dressed in business attire, had thrown his tie over his shoulder and taken care of it.

When his colleagues asked why he went out of his way to change the tire in 100-degree heat, Franklin downplayed it all.

“I was fully capable,” he said.

The clothes didn’t matter.

His character did.

FAQ

What is OSU’s Living the Cowboy Code Award?

The Living the Cowboy Code Award recognizes faculty and staff who embody OSU’s values not just in what they accomplish, but in how they show up for their colleagues, students and communities.

Who are the Living the Cowboy Code Award winners?

Chris Franklin, program specialist in the CFW, won the inaugural Living the Cowboy Code Award on the OSU-Stillwater campus at the strategic plan launch in September. Natasha Coffelt is the first OSU-Tulsa winner, and Mark Gibble is the first OSUIT winner. The inaugural OSU-OKC recipient will be announced Oct. 30.

I know someone who lives the Cowboy Code. Can I nominate them for an award?

Yes. OSU will recognize a Living the Cowboy Code honoree each month across the OSU System. Fill out the form to nominate a colleague.

What does the Center for the Future of Work do?

The Center for the Future of Work advances workforce development and economic growth through customized learning and professional development experiences that help individuals, teams and organizations build the skills needed to succeed today and adapt for tomorrow.

Where is the Center for the Future of Work?

Housed in the Spears School of Business, the Center for the Future of Work is on the Business Building’s second floor. Visit the website to learn more.