Dr. Norman C. Francis is notable for being the institution's first Black male lay head of the university and served as president for how many years?

Dr. Norman C. Francis is notable for being the institution's first Black male lay head of the university and served as president for how many years?

• A. 47 years
• B. 30 years
• C. 40 years
• D. 52 years

Answer: (A)

Understanding how long a president leads a university comes down to subtracting the start year from the end year. Dr. Norman C. Francis began his presidency in 1968 and served through 2015. The difference is 47 years, so his tenure is 47 years. This matches his distinction as the institution’s first Black male lay head and reflects the long, impactful period of leadership he provided. The other options would require different start or end years that don’t align with the actual timeline of his presidency.

Understanding how long a president leads a university comes down to subtracting the start year from the end year. Dr. Norman C. Francis began his presidency in 1968 and served through 2015. The difference is 47 years, so his tenure is 47 years. This matches his distinction as the institution’s first Black male lay head and reflects the long, impactful period of leadership he provided. The other options would require different start or end years that don’t align with the actual timeline of his presidency.