Frank was born in Arkansas and raised in Chicago. He graduated from Grinnell College with a BA and from Indiana University with a JD. He returned to Iowa and worked in the public sector before joining the administrative staff at Grinnell College, where served as Senior Counselor to the president until his retirement in 2009. At Plymouth, Frank is Coordinator of the Transition into Ministry (TiM) program, a 27-month residency funded by the Lilly Endowment. TiM is designed to help recent seminary graduates become more effective pastors in their future congregations.
 

Frank has been an active volunteer in the United Church of Christ and in community organizations in Des Moines. His wife Sheena is a co-owner of Elements, Ltd. fine jewelry gallery. Frank and Sheena are parents of two adult sons.