Lisa DeFrank-Cole

Professor and Director, West Virginia University Leadership Studies Program

Dr. Lisa DeFrank-Cole is an author, leadership coach, and educator with more than 20 years of experience working in universities and in state-government. Lisa works with individuals and groups to support their leadership development through speaking, coaching, and teaching. An advocate for women’s advancement, she has spoken at events around the world and served as a Fulbright Specialist Scholar at the Royal University for Women in the Kingdom of Bahrain. She is an expert on women and leadership having written articles, chapters, case studies, and books.

As a professor at West Virginia University (WVU), Lisa has taught courses and conducted research on various facets of leadership. She is a founding member of the WVU Women’s Leadership Initiative where she served as the inaugural director. Prior to working at WVU, she served as the Executive Director of the WV PROMISE Scholarship, worked at Carnegie Mellon University and at the University of Michigan. Most recently, she penned Women and Leadership: Journey Toward Equity (2021 SAGE) with Dr. Sherylle Tan. Contact Lisa via email at L.DeFrank.Cole@gmail.com.