Reverend Darryl Franklin, Ph.D. is a native Chicagoan, and a former member of Faith Lutheran Church, Chicago, where he began attending Sunday School in 1967 and first learned "Jesus Love Me This I Know."

Dr. Franklin has an Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology; completed graduate work at Northwestern University's School of Communication; has an earned Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and also a earned Ph.D. in Organization Development from Benedictine University.

Rev. Dr. Franklin was ordained an Itinerant Elder in the AME Church October of 2006.

Dr. Franklin and Shari, his wife of 25 years, have two children, Patrick and Lyndsey.