Judge Audrey Collins learned the value of education from her parents. Her father worked his way through Johnson C. Smith (now Biddle) and Mehary Dental School. Her mother received a master's degree from the University of Michigan and went on to teach high school English for many years.

They taught her to strive to meet any goals which she set for herself and always encouraged her to feel that anything was possible. Collins began her professional career in education. After receiving a master's degree, she was a high school teacher (1969-70; 1972), worked for the Model Cities Project (1970-71), and was a Student Affairs Counselor for two years at the University of Southern California (1971-73). She notes that her husband, Dr. Tim Collins, encouraged her to go to law school, to grow, and to continue to explore new career options.

Judge Collins is the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the 1994 Distinguished Service Award from the National Black Prosecutors Association and the University of California at Los Angeles' 1997 Alumni Association Award. She is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Order of the Coif.

Source: http://jtbf.net/index.php?src=directory&view=biographies&srctype=display&refno=47