Dean Franks

Dr. Dean Franks is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). He holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University (2017), an MA in English from Stephen F. Austin State University (2008), and a BA in English from the University of Central Arkansas (2004).

• PhD in Curriculum and Instruction (2017), Texas A&M University-College Station
• MA in English (2008), Stephen F. Austin State University
• BA in English (2004), University of Central Arkansas

Dr. Franks specializes in Social-emotional development through STEAM activities and play, STEAM motivation, and LGTBQ+ educational experiences in STEAM education. His research bridges interdisciplinary pedagogy with inclusive educational practices.

His publications highlight trends in integrating social-emotional learning with STEM, leveraging social media for academic writing communities, and exploring perspective-taking in childhood education. Recent works emphasize self-image in STEM, inferential comprehension, and literacy instruction grounded in theory and practice.

Dr. Franks contributes to academic discourse through journals like Science Educator, The Journal of Literacy and Technology, and Reading Teacher. His work spans topics such as motivation in STEM, digital collaboration tools, and narrative analysis for cognitive development.