"When I learn something new and it happens every day
I feel a little more at home in the universe,
a little more comfortable in the nest." ~ Bill Moyers
As a faculty member and administrator at a university, I interacted with hundreds of students over the years, from incoming freshmen to graduate and professional school students. Many expressed satisfaction regarding their academic experience and life while others, albeit the minority, confessed feeling frustrated academically, personally or both. What was the difference?
I asked them simple, direct questions and listened carefully to what was said (and not said). They listened to their answers as well. Together we began to understand that the difference resided in owning responsibility for their own lives, educations, and choices. Surrendering these to others left them feeling directionless, vulnerable and dissatisfied with themselves. With this insight, choices changed, new directions and patterns developed, and satisfaction improved as they identified their own vision for the future and found their own answers.
This process, it turns out, is the essence of coaching. And, thus, a college coaching program and a coaching enthusiast came to be.
Being in mid-life myself, I recognized how useful coaching could be for people my age who hunger for a meaningful, authentic life. Personally, I had made significant transitions in careers and personal relationships. Some of those were really challenging but they also stretched me to be the person I want to be. I underwent formal coach training and established my private coaching practice in 2004 so that I could extend coaching to a broader range of individuals. And, yes, I hired my first coach. My life has never been the same since.
I invite you to contact me if coaching sounds like something you want. It is your life. I encourage you to do your part to create it the way you want it to be!
About Fran
Below, you will find a brief accounting of how I've spent much of my professional life. But first, I will share with you how I discovered coaching.As a faculty member and administrator at a university, I interacted with hundreds of students over the years, from incoming freshmen to graduate and professional school students. Many expressed satisfaction regarding their academic experience and life while others, albeit the minority, confessed feeling frustrated academically, personally or both. What was the difference?
I asked them simple, direct questions and listened carefully to what was said (and not said). They listened to their answers as well. Together we began to understand that the difference resided in owning responsibility for their own lives, educations, and choices. Surrendering these to others left them feeling directionless, vulnerable and dissatisfied with themselves. With this insight, choices changed, new directions and patterns developed, and satisfaction improved as they identified their own vision for the future and found their own answers.
This process, it turns out, is the essence of coaching. And, thus, a college coaching program and a coaching enthusiast came to be.
Being in mid-life myself, I recognized how useful coaching could be for people my age who hunger for a meaningful, authentic life. Personally, I had made significant transitions in careers and personal relationships. Some of those were really challenging but they also stretched me to be the person I want to be. I underwent formal coach training and established my private coaching practice in 2004 so that I could extend coaching to a broader range of individuals. And, yes, I hired my first coach. My life has never been the same since.
I invite you to contact me if coaching sounds like something you want. It is your life. I encourage you to do your part to create it the way you want it to be!
My Resume
| 1968-1979 | ||
| B.A. | Washington University, English Literature | |
| M.A. | University of Chicago, Human Development | |
| Ph.D. | Washington University, Psychology | |
| Post-Doctoral Fellow | Washington University School of Medicine, Psychology and Physiology | |
| 1980-1998 | ||
| Professor & Scientist | Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine | |
| 1998-2004 | ||
| Associate Dean | College of Arts and Sciences, Washington University | |
| Assistant Director | Center for Advanced Learning, Washington University | |
| Director | Disability Resource Center, Washington University | |
| 2004-present | ||
| Principal Owner | Fran Lang, Ph.D., LLC | |
| Certified | Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), Coach Training Institute | |
| Credentialed | ACC, International Coach Federation | |
| Graduate | Co-Active Leadership Program, Coach Training Institute |