She took a chemistry class at Highland Park Community College while completing her associate’s degree, and was fascinated by the topic of stoichiometry, which led her to pursue being a chemist.
[1] After earning her Ph.D., Collins started work as a postdoctoral fellow in analytical chemistry with Isiah Warner at Louisiana State University.
Although as an early student, she dreamed of teaching at an HBCU, over the years she had developed a passion for increasing diversity and inclusion in STEM and began devoting her efforts to that goal.
Following her position at Claflin, Collins started working at The University of Washington as a Director of Graduate Diversity Recruiting, supporting DEI in STEM from 2006 to 2008.
[1] During her time at Claflin and the College of Wooster, Collins mentored 17 undergraduates and also performed research on the use of transition metals in cancer treatment.
[9] She also worked with the Women of Ford to provide funding for automotive engineering clubs at two high schools.
[2] She has written for a variety of platforms, including her “Unsung” articles at Undark, focussing on little-known black scientists.