Patricia Hill Collins

Personal Life and Accomplishments

Patricia Hill Collins was born in Philadelphia on May 1, 1948. Patricia was an only child and her parents were both involved in the war efforts of World War II. In her early schooling, Patricia was discriminated against for being one of the few African American woman whose parents were in the working class. After public school, she attended Brandies University. Moving to Boston helped her overcome the discrimination she had faced in the past, and she was able to begin shaping her own sociological perspective from being in a new environment. Patricia received her Bachelor of Arts with a major in sociology, and soon after continued her education further at Harvard University, earning her Master of Arts in Teaching. in 1970. Throughout her teaching career, Patricia took part in development of curriculum and education in schools; particularily ones that faced economic and social problems. Patricia moved to Tufts University, as she was a Director in the African American Department, and met her husband Roger Collins in 1977. Two years after, they had baby Valerie. Soon after, Patricia went back to Brandies University and got her doctorate in sociology. In 1982, the family moved and Patricia worked at the School of Education at the University of Cincinnati, in the department of African American Studies where she studied Women's Studies and sociology. In 1996, her dedication payed off as she became the Charles Phelps Taft Distinguished Professor of Sociology. Following her path as a professor, she held a career at the University of Maryland as the Wilson Elkins Professor of Sociology, and from then on she has been working with graduate students in race, feminist scholarship, and sociological theory. Aside from remaining in North America, Patricia has travelled to many places where she gained knowledge regarding how gender, race and many other factors vary in different cultures and places.