Commissioner

Frances Curtis Frazier
Frances Curtis Frazier has been a Facilitator and Consultant for over 25 years.  She holds a B.S. cum laude in Special Education from Norfolk State University and a M.A. Degree in Learning Disabilities and Behavioral Disorders from The Ohio State University.   Fran is currently working on a doctoral degree in Leadership and Change at Antioch University in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

For many years Fran served as a member of the Executive Staff for the Director of the Ohio Department of Human Services.  As an Executive-on-Loan to the Ohio Commission on African American Males, Fran developed and supervised the Mother to Son Project, a statewide program which addressed the needs of single African American mothers raising boys. 

As the former Administrator for Cultural Initiatives for the Ohio Department of Human Services, Ms. Frazier received special recognition from the Governor of Ohio for serving as a Facilitator and for promoting Study Circles (small group democracy in action) as a process for addressing Racism and Race Relations in governmental agencies.   Many county agencies continue to use the Study Circle model and process to address services to children and families.  Fran is a national Facilitator and Trainer for the   Study Circles Resource Center in Connecticut.

Fran’s area of expertise is her ability to present creative and insightful approaches to issues of high sensitivity.  Her work in the area of cultural competency in the workplace, cultural awareness training and the creation of culturally specific programs in the Social Services field earned her the YWCA “Woman of Achievement Award” in Racial Justice.

Currently Fran is serving as a consultant to the Columbus, Ohio Public Schools District.  She is working with specific schools on school climate issues: assessing principal leadership, teacher morale, student behavior and parent involvement.

A school climate area of Fran’s expertise is addressing relational aggression in girls.

Ms. Frazier is also an adjunct professor for Ashland University.  She developed and is teaching a course: Developing Cultural Competence-Strategies for Urban Public School Teachers.  This is a graduate level course for CPS teachers who are participating in the District’s Diversity Master Teachers Program.

Fran Frazier is an ardent advocate for women’s transformation.  She is a nationally recognized speaker and presenter.  African American women are Fran’s special ministry.  Since 1979, Fran has established programs, conducted retreats and given presentations on issues of sisterhood and self-empowerment.

Fran is the creator of “The Angel In You” an inspired program especially designed for girls in the 5^th through 9^th grades.  The program is formatted to assist girls in the development of their skills, talents, abilities and dreams.

She promotes the role of African American women as change agents within the Black family and the Black community.  Her work takes her throughout Ohio and the United States.  To foster healing among African American women, Fran Frazier conducts a program entitled, “Ministering to the Needs of Black Women.”  Ms. Frazier is charter member of the Columbus Black Women’s Health Project and was elected to the Board of National Black Women’s Health Project for two terms.

Fran Frazier is an experienced Life Coach who has also completed Master’s level training in the Art of Giving Spiritual Direction.  She is a member of Spiritual Directors International.

Frances Curtis Frazier has served as a Consultant to numerous universities, colleges, professional associations, school districts, and social service agencies across Ohio and the nation.

Ms. Frazier has received many awards and commendations for her work especially the 2000 Black Family Award from the Columbus Urban League for co-creating “Black Family Week” in the state of Ohio and the “Woman of the Year” Award from the Eldon W. Ward YMCA.  In September 2001, Fran received the “Women Making A Difference Award for Community Leadership” from the Ohio Department of Health. In 2002 she received the “Remarkable Women’s Award from Triedstone Missionary Baptist Church for her work in the Columbus community. In November, 2004 Fran received the “Golden Rulers Award” from the Columbus, Ohio School Board.  In 2005 she was a recipient of the “Living Faith” Award from the Columbus Metropolitan Church Council.

Fran is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who of Professional Management and is also included in Who’s Who in African Americans.  Fran Frazier is an active member of her Columbus community and a frequently requested public speaker.  She is a television and radio commentator as well as a contributing writer for several Ohio newspapers.  She is the author of “Sparkle, Anyway” a positive self-talk book for women.  Fran is a member of The Grail, an international movement of women whose work and advocacy has changed the lives of women and children throughout the world.

Believing in the collective power of women, Fran is always working on projects of sisterhood .