A lifelong Warwick resident, Representative Hopkins' values have been shaped through her roles as a mother, a nurse, and a teacher. Hopkins earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Brown University, in English and in Literature; and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from URI. She is currently working on obtaining her Master's in Nursing at URI.

She worked for the State of Rhode Island Psychiatric Hospital, at the Veterans Administration Hospital, and at Roger Williams Hospital as an acute psychiatric nurse. She also served as a substitute school nurse in the City of Warwick, and as an instructor of CNA coursework at the Community College of Rhode Island.

In Hopkins' spare time, she is an avid reader, has traveled the world and has utilized her writing talents as a magazine editor and contributor. She also serves on the board of a Veterans' outreach charity.

With her husband, Steve, they have raised three children and two dogs next door to her grandmother, and live just five minutes from her parents and brother.​