The first president of Wayne University and the longtime head of Detroit Public Schools, Frank Cody, was born in Belleville, Michigan, and educated at State Normal College in Ypsilanti, where he later received his Doctor of Laws and various honorary degrees.

From there, he built a career in Michigan’s educational system before rising to leadership roles in the city of Detroit that saw him playing a major hand in shaping Detroit’s educational infrastructure in the early 20th century.

Frank Cody became the Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools in 1919 – a position he held until his death in April of 1942.

Over the course of his career, he helped modernize the district’s curriculum material, construct entirely new schools, train up generations of teachers, and help the district expand in size and scale.

However, his biggest achievement wouldn’t come until 1933, when Detroit’s city colleges were consolidated and Cody was appointed the first President of Wayne University (formerly the Colleges of the City of Detroit), a role he held alongside his duties as superintendent.

Frank Cody served on the Detroit City Council shortly before his death in 1942, and in 1952, the Frank Cody High School in Detroit was opened in his honor, paying homage to his lasting impact.

His work laid the groundwork for the future of Detroit’s public education system, helping an entirely new generation of educators organize, expand, and consolidate during a time of rapid population growth.

In short, Frank Cody didn’t just administer the city’s school system in the early 20th century, but he created an entire framework for Detroit’s educational future that led to major leaps in innovation, institutional merging, equity, scale, and permanence.

Victoria Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Victoria Jackson is a lifelong student and sharp-eyed documentarian of all things Detroit, from its rich musical roots and cultural icons to its shifting neighborhoods, storied architecture, and underground legends. With her finger firmly on the pulse of both the city’s vibrant past and its rapidly unfolding future, she brings a deeply personal, historically grounded lens to every piece she writes.

Published on: October 1, 2025