Originally from Oxford, Mississippi, Frances lived in New York City for 17 years before relocating to Durham, North Carolina in 2020. Frances has a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Barnard College and a Master’s Degree in Performing Arts Administration from New York University. She is an adjunct professor at Winthrop University, where she teaches Marketing in their Online Master of Arts in Arts Administration Program.

Frances has worked for some of the nation’s leading arts institutions in communications, marketing, ticketing, audience engagement, and audience development. She began her career in the Artistic Department at American Ballet Theatre before working in marketing at Jazz at Lincoln Center and The Town Hall. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Frances served as the Director of Marketing and Digital Strategy for Off-Broadway’s Irish Repertory Theatre, where she led the company’s transition to become “the leader in streaming theater productions” (Theatermania), expanding audiences by over 50 percent. She joined the team at Duke Arts in May 2022.