Epilepsy Foundation Of Alabama Names New Executive Director

HOOVER, AL — A Hoover native has been tapped to lead the Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama. Sara Franklin was named the organization's executive director this week.

Franklin comes to the Epilepsy Foundation with nearly a decade of public and community relations experience. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in public relations and communication studies at the University of Alabama in 2010.

As well, Franklin's has been impacted by the cause, as her life was personally affected by epilepsy last year.

"One in 26 people in the United States will develop epilepsy during their lifetime, and more than 54,000 people in the state of Alabama have epilepsy or another type of seizure disorder," said Gregg Fort, Regional Director for Chapter Operations at the Epilepsy Foundation. "There are many new developments in the works in the treatment of epilepsy, especially with research being done at hospital institutions in Alabama, and we look forward to Sara leading our organization’s efforts to provide services related to epilepsy throughout the state."

Franklin has served on the Alabama Public Relations Society of America Board for the past nine years, and she is currently serving as the University of Alabama PRSA / PRSSA Liaison. She is a member of the Junior League of Birmingham, the Hoover City Schools Foundation Board, the Bob O. Finley Committee for Character Education in Hoover City Schools and the Shades Mountain Baptist Church Women’s Leadership Team. She is also a graduate of the Leadership UAB Program and the Junior League of Birmingham’s Leadership Institute Program.

"We are extremely fortunate to have Sara Franklin as the Executive Director of the Epilepsy Foundation here in our state," said Garland Stansell, Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama Advisory Board Chair and Chief Communications Officer at Children’s of Alabama. "I’ve had the pleasure of working with Sara in a number of professional and volunteer organizations over the past decade and I know she will bring strong leadership and enthusiasm to our statewide chapter."