Lance Frank, 2025 Young Alumnus of the Year

Honoring Lance Frank | 2025 Young Alumnus of the Year

Every year, the LSU Alumni Association proudly celebrates outstanding alumni who exemplify leadership, excellence, and a strong connection to the LSU family. We are thrilled to recognize Lance Frank (2011 BACH MASS COMM) as our 2025 Young Alumnus of the Year — a media executive making a national impact while remaining deeply rooted in his LSU legacy.

LSU Alumni Association's 2025 Young Alumnus of the Year Lance Frank

Rising Through the Ranks at CBS News

Frank was named Head of Communications for CBS News, Stations, and CBS Media Ventures in September 2024. In this role, he leads all communications and publicity efforts for every CBS News program and platform, including CBS News Digital, CBS Stations, and the CBS Media Ventures portfolio. Additionally, Frank manages executive communications strategies, media relations, and internal communications for the division's leadership. 

He was promoted to Executive Vice President of Communications for CBS News and Stations and Media Ventures in January 2024. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President of Communications for CBS News, and since 2020, as Deputy Head of Communications, overseeing communications strategies and media relations across the division. Frank joined CBS News in June 2011 after working in local newsrooms as a print and television reporter and producer. While attending LSU, he was an intern at WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge from 2008 to 2011.

Frank early in his career at WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge, LA.

Early Career and the CBS News Associate Program

At CBS, Frank has held roles of increasing responsibility in both the newsroom and communications department. He was the first person hired as a CBS News Associate, a program for young journalists to hone their skills and gain experience across various units at CBS News. He later worked at Channel One News, a daily news program for schools nationwide, before returning to CBS News as a Production Secretary for the CBS Evening News. 

In 2012, Frank joined the CBS News communications team, where he helped launch CBS This Morning and later served as the Principal Publicist for the CBS Evening News. He worked on award-winning coverage of the war in Syria, the 2012 presidential election, and major domestic and international stories. Frank has since been promoted to several leadership roles with public relations oversight of flagship broadcasts and platforms, including 60 Minutes, Face the Nation, The CBS Evening News, CBS News 24/7 streaming news service, all political, foreign, and special event coverage, and the CBS News Race and Culture Unit. 

Today, he is a trusted adviser and media strategist to executives, anchors, and key stakeholders across CBS News, leading communications for major division-wide initiatives, editorial and ratings achievements, investigative reports, and special projects. 

Award-Winning Public Relations

Lance Frank’s outstanding contributions to journalism and strategic communications have earned him national recognition and industry accolades. He received the 2017 Rising PR Star 30 & Under honor from PR Week. He has led multifaceted press campaigns for Emmy, Murrow, and Peabody award-winning news reports for 60 Minutes, The CBS Evening News, and CBS Mornings, covering stories of international significance — including the Syrian civil war, the opioid epidemic, and the Boston Marathon bombings. 

LSU: A Lifelong Connection

A native of Lake Charles, La., Lance graduated from the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication in 2011 and has never forgotten where his journey began. He currently serves on the Manship School Advisory Committee and continues to give back to the university that helped shape him. Frank also helped launch the school’s #ManshipLoyalty Campaign.

In his own words:

“LSU is where my dreams took root. It’s the place that not only gave me an education but also shaped who I am personally and professionally... More than anything, LSU means pride, gratitude, and a lifelong connection to a place that believed in me and always poured into me – which is why I continue to and will also give back to it.”

In addition to his LSU degree, Frank has completed executive education courses at Harvard Business School, Harvard Kennedy School, and the London School of Economics.

Frank currently lives in New York with his wife, Janesia Fontenot, and their two children.

We are proud to honor Lance Frank as the LSU Alumni Association’s 2025 Young Alumnus of the Year. Through hard work, talent, and Tiger pride, he continues to build a legacy that inspires students and alumni alike.

Learn more about the LSU Alumni Association Hall of Distinction

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