PC Degrees: BA/Political Science

Career Path: Rev. Frank Hicks' unusual career journey began two years after graduating from Providence College.  His first decision was to join the Peace Corps. After language training, he became one of a handful of community development volunteers among the 700,000 residents of Thailand's Sri Saket province. Upon returning to the United States, he joined the Border Patrol in 1970 and served in Texas on the Rio Grande until 1971, when he joined the INS criminal investigations unit in Los Angeles. His Thai language skills were put to use in 1977 in refugee camps in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, where he interviewed people seeking asylum in America.

In later years, Hicks oversaw detention and deportation facilities in California and was an INS liaison to government and police agencies.  He took part in sting operations targeting foreign organized crime groups trafficking drugs, and worked on a narcotics interdiction task force under then-Vice President Bush.

Stepping away from government ranks, he rode his Harley to Oklahoma, where the avid motorcyclist took up residence at a Benedictine monastery for a year before enrolling in St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, Calif.  Hicks entered the seminary in 1995 and was ordained a priest in January 2000.  A driving force behind his move to the Church was his recovery from alcoholism through Alcoholics Anonymous.

Father Hicks works with law enforcement as a member of the Chaplains Advisory Board and the Critical Incident Response Team of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), and as a chaplain certified to the Federal Correctional Center at Terminal Island, Calif.  He is also a Board Member and Vice President of Justice: INS Federal Credit Union, a member of the Benevolent Order of Elks San Pedro Lodge, and chaplain and participating team member of the Victor McLaglen Motor Cycle Stunt and Drill Team. 

As of July 2004 Fr. Hicks was assigned as Associate Pastor at St. Mel's Parish in Woodland Hills, California -- a parish which has responsibility for two region wide general hospitals and the Motion Picture Retirement Home and Hospital, as well as a number of convalescent and retirement care facilities.

He also is assigned as chaplain for the West Valley Division LAPD and denominational specific (Roman Catholic) for the entire Los Angeles Police Department.

Staying Involved:  Fr. Hicks was honored in February 2005 by the Providence College Alumni Association with the Exemplary Citizenship Award for his unique social service and contribution to his community. 

Memorable Quote: "The education I got at PC is something I'm very proud of.  Providence College has had an enormous influence in terms of order and balance in some of the decisions I've made."