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Francis McDonald returned to his alma mater in the 2001-2002 academic year as an assistant professor of advertising with experience in both the professional and academic worlds.

He is a second-generation Hamptonian, and his parents met as students at then-Hampton Institute. He graduated in 1976 with a bachelor of arts degree in mass media arts.

He earned his master's degree in journalism at The Ohio State University and he is now working on his doctorate.

He is a seasoned public relations professional with more than 25 years of governmental, industrial, and educational experience.

He has provided communications consulting services to more than 30 organizations for the past 12 years. His background includes working as a senior public relations coordinator with Newport News Shipbuilding, a former department head for the City of Norfolk, an assistant professor of mass communication and journalism at Norfolk State University and a professor and doctoral student at Regent University.

He also is president of J&F Productions, Inc., a sound-reinforcement production company providing services for gospel concerts, business meetings, and festivals.
He also has been chair of the multicultural affairs committee of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the nation's largest professional association for public relations practitioners.

He was twice honored with PRSA's Presidential Citation Award.