Xavier chief listed among best leaders

Norman Francis, who has led Xavier University for 41 years, has been named one of America's Best Leaders in a poll conducted by U.S. News Media Group and a division of Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Being on the list is "a privilege," Francis said Wednesday. "I take it for New Orleans and Louisiana as a part of the resilience and the hard work that it takes to do what we do in higher education, as well as in the city in general."

Francis, 79, whose tenure is longer than that of any other college president in the country, has held a host of civic positions, most recently as chairman of the Louisiana Recovery Authority until last year. He has been showered with honorary degrees and awards, most notably the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

Among the 21 other people on the list, which is being announced today, are Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve Board; Eve Ensler, the playwright who wrote "The Vagina Monologues"; U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; former U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.; former astronaut Sally Ride; and choreographer Twyla Tharp.

A statement accompanying the list said the honorees "have contributed to industry advancement with their innovation and achievements, and through their advocacy, service, activism and philanthropy, have dedicated their careers to improving the everyday lives of people across the globe."

"This is very, very big-time company," Francis said. It's a good list, and I'm honored to be considered. . . . I accept it for all the people who helped me do whatever (the nominators) said I did."

This is the fifth annual list of leaders, which U.S. News Media Group, publisher of U.S. News & World Report, compiled with the Kennedy School's Center for Public Leadership.

The list is at www.usnews.com/leaders and will be in the magazine that will go on sale Tuesday....