Uncrowned Community Builders

Dr. Catherine Fisher Collins has earned a Doctoral degree from the State University of New York's University at Buffalo, from which she had also received a Master's Degree in Allied Health Education, Evaluation and Curriculum Development. Dr.Collins completed her undergraduate studies at SUNY's Buffalo State College, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Vocational Technical Education, and at Trocaire College, where she graduated from the Registered Nurse program. Dr. Collins is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner graduating from the University at Buffalo's School of Nursing Nurse Practitioner program. She also holds three certifications in health education.

In her career in the health care field, she has held professional positions in the areas of planning, education and administration. A longtime educator, she has held positions as assistant academic dean, department chair, full professor, and currently serves as an Associate Professor at SUNY's Empire State College, as well as an adjunct professor at the University at Buffalo's Women's Studies Department. In these positions, she works with undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of health care and criminal justice.

Dr. Collins was elected in 2004 to a five year term on the Buffalo Board of Education. She served as the Boards Vice President from 2006-2007 and chaired and served on the Boards' Executive Affairs Committee. She also served on Student Choice, Finance, Academic Achievement Committees and Chaired the Charter School Moratorium Committee. Dr. Collins' term ended in 2009

She has been presented with over sixty awards, including Western New York Women's Hall of Fame, SUNY Best Faculty Fellow; awards related to community service and health from the governors of New York, Kentucky and New Jersey; and awards from the Buffalo Urban League, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Jaycees Attica Prison Branch, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Coalition of 100 Black Women, National Organization of Women, and Jack and Jill of America (Eastern Region).

She was the producer and host of WIVB Channel 29's "Health Service Information" program, which aired for three years. She was appointed by New York State Governor to serve on the New York State Commission of Corrections Medical Review Board; the first nurse appointed by the governor to this position, which she held for over five years. In this capacity, Dr. Collins was charged with the review of all New York State prisoners' health complaints and deaths.

In her former role as School Board member she served on two national Committees- Membership an Governance& Training and New York State School's Board Association's Cultural Diversity Committee She has also served on the Erie County School Boards Association, the Buffalo Teachers Center, the Early Language Development Initiative, and serves as regional coordinator of For Women Only.

She is a respected author of several published and as-yet-incomplete books, including, Sources of Stress and Relief for African American Women (2003), The Imprisonment of African American Women: Causes, Conditions and Future Implications (1997) winner of the 1997 Outstanding Academic and Scholarly Award), and African American Women's Health and Social Issues Book I (1996),African American Women's Health and Social Issues Book II (2006) and The Imprisonment of African American Women: Causes, Experiences and Effects 2nd edition(2010). Other publications include Up The Hill (1999, 2000), The Kinship Caregivers Handbook (2003) and Parent Child Rearing Practices (1990).

She serves as a field reader of grants for the federal governments' Department of Health and Human Services, as well as a reader for Educational Testing Service/ College Board's Advance Placement Program. In 1999, she traveled to South Africa, where she presented a lecture at the University of South Africa's Law School. During her visit, she completed research for a book and videotaped two women's prisons. She has produced two videos about South Africa that document her work/ visit. In 2000, she traveled to Nigeria to establish two Jack and Jill of America chapters.

Dr. Collins is a member of The Buffalo Links. She has served as president of the local chapter of Jack and Jill and brought the Beautillion program that honors outstanding African American. She has also held the following positions with Jack and Jill of America: Director (Eastern Region), 1993-1995; National Editor, 1998-2000; National Vice President (2000-2002); and official board spokesperson (2000-2002).

Dr. Collins is the mother of Clyde Collins MD, and Laura Harris a Buffalo public school principal. She is the sister of the late Herman Fisher Jr, daughter of the late Herman and Catherine Fisher. Dr. Collins is the sister of Fay Austin and David Fisher