She received a B.A. degree in Spanish from Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, an M.A. in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and is currently a doctoral candidate in Latin American literature at the University of Kentucky. Her dissertation topic is “Contextualizing the Dominican Woman: Social, Political, and Historical Representation in the Works of Aida Cartagena Portalatin (1918-1994)” from the Dominican Republic. Her research interests include: Afro/a-Hispanic Women authors, Francophone women authors, and English-speaking Caribbean authors. Ms. Collins is a contributor to a newly released book (2003) entitled “Daughters of the Diaspora: Afra-Hispanic Writers”, edited by Miriam DeCosta Willis.