Frances Hawkins is a registered nurse with over 30 years experience in various aspects of nursing, inclusive of nurse administration, staff development, community and acute care nursing. Her degrees are a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Dillard University School of Nursing and a Master of Nursing from the Louisiana State University Medical Center School of Nursing in New Orleans. She is certified as a Therapon Belief Therapist from the Therapon Institute in New Orleans and holds a Certification of Completion as a Church Nurse from the Deaconess Parish Nurse Ministries International Parish Nurse Resource Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Her service has been predominantly at the Medical Center of Louisiana

(previously known as Charity Hospital) in New Orleans. Her positions held include: Head Nurse of an Inpatient Medical Surgical Unit, Program Coordinator of the Recruitment and Retention Department, In-service Instructor in the Department of Staff Development, Clinical Nurse Specialist of the Diabetes Center, which she was the facilitator of its development, and the Associate Nurse Administrator of The Ambulatory Care Services.

She has worked tirelessly in the community providing presentations on Diabetes awareness, preventive care and complications. She collaborated as a participant in the REACH 2010 Healthy New Orleans program, presenter in the "Sisters Making a Change" program at the Ashe Cultural Center, served as a guest presenter at the 2006 National Presbyterian Assembly Convention in New Orleans, and presented at the 2007 International Parish Nurse Resource Center Educator’s Conference in St. Louis, Missouri on "Resilience – The Long Haul."

Mrs. Hawkins has received several citations for services such as: Success 2000 Award for the Area IV South Central Region (American Diabetes Association); Semi-Finalist Women of Wonder Award (National Council of Negro Women); Appreciation and Generous Service Award (Louisiana State University Ag Center); Director of the Year (Medical Center of Louisiana); Recipient, Charles E. Dunbar Career Service Award (Louisiana Civil Service League).

She is a ministry leader and Church Nurse at the Purelight Baptist Church, New Orleans, a member of Sigma Theta Tau-Epsilon Nu Honor Society, the American Diabetes Association, the Dillard University Professional Organization of Nursing (DUPON), and a member of the National Association of Public Health Administrators. She is an experienced advocate of healthcare for the underserved population and has an extensive relationship with community services and faith-based organizations.