Alumna “takes the leap” into a complete career pivot
HFC alumna Holly Collins had such a positive experience at the College that she now aspires to return to her alma mater as a teacher.
“I had been in the nursing program, but decided to change course. I thought about all the amazing teachers I had at HFC. I realized that I wanted to be like these professors who inspired me and made such great connections with me. I want to teach English at a HFC, where it all began. I had such a great time at HFC. I see community college as amazing because you can make more connections with students and focus on teaching, not as much on research and publishing,” explained Collins.
Supportive faculty brought her back into academics
The youngest of three sisters, Collins was born in Monroe. She lives in Trenton with her two daughters, 13 and 8. She is a graduate of Carlson High School in Gibraltar. An adult learner, Collins and her older sister Amanda Burnham took classes together at HFC. She graduated in late 2025, earning her associate degree in liberal arts. She also earned her Michigan Transfer Agreement certificate from the College. Through the Go Blue Guarantee, she transferred to the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where she is majoring in English. After she finishes her bachelor’s degree, she will pursue graduate work.
“HFC helped me transition back into academics after an 8-year absence and being a single mom,” said Collins. “Switching from nursing to English was scary, but the faculty members were very supportive.”
HFC English instructors Dr. Peter Kim, Dr. John Rietz, Pedro San Antonio, Dr. Ruth Haller, Angela Hathikhanavala, HFC psychology instructor Alison Buchanan, and HFC biology instructor R. Aaron Ramey all have had a positive impact on Collins.
“I recommend people attend HFC because of the teachers. I had nothing but good experiences with my teachers,” said Collins. “I stay in touch with the majority of them. They’ve always been attentive and supportive. The faculty at HFC truly care.”
Not afraid to ask difficult questions
Collins attended HFC on a Pell Grant. During her time at HFC, she was a member of the Henry Ford II Honors Program, served as a copy editor for two semesters at The Mirror News, and participated twice in the LAND Conference. She was also named the Star Biology Student in 2024.
“Holly is a paragon of determination and kindness,” said Ramey. “In my experience across three different courses, Holly consistently stood out. She came to class prepared and eager to learn. She remained engaged with the material during lectures and was always willing to help her classmates in the lab.”
Collins remembered when she got the news about being the Star Biology Student.
“It was a shock. I didn’t know Professor Ramey recommended me for it until he sent me an email saying I won! I had him for my first biology course. I never thought I’d be good at science, but then I took classes with him and he brought it out of me,” she said. “Dr. Rietz was my honors mentor. He helped guide me toward Dr. Kim’s class, which then led me to The Mirror News and LAND. The Honors Program changed my focus and made me take the leap into English and education.”
Kim is proud of Collins and her accomplishments.
“One of the true joys of teaching is getting to know amazing students like Holly Collins,” said Kim. “Her wit and intelligence immediately stood out when I had her as a student two years ago, and I knew I had to recruit her for the newspaper. Since then, she’s been one of the best copy editors the newspaper has had. She brightens up every room she enters, and her kindness, generosity, and humility add to how hard-working, creative, and sharp she is. While she is continuing her education next door at UM-Dearborn, I was elated to see her give her wonderful talk on ‘Shakespeare and Feminism: Was He Subverting or Upholding Societal Norms?’ at the LAND Conference in February.”
San Antonio had opened Collins’ eyes to Shakespeare and other classic literature.
“Holly fills many roles with ease,” said San Antonio. “She’s a mother and a student. She reads as much as anyone I know and reads thoughtfully and carefully. She is intellectually curious and can approach a text with admiration and criticism. Because she loves to ask difficult questions, she’s not afraid of difficult answers.”
Setting an example for her 2 daughters
Collins’ major inspiration for her academic success is her daughters.
“I felt like it was important to set an example for them,” she said. “To show them that if they put their best effort into something, they can complete whatever they put their minds to. When I began going to HFC, I never expected to do as well as I did. I didn’t have the best grades in high school, and I had been out of school for eight years. I just knew that I wanted to do well because of them.”
Buchanan had Collins and her sister for two of her psychology courses. She also worked with Collins on a directed study through the Honors Program.
“As a non-traditional student, Holly’s found her place and is thriving. Her creativity, hard work, dedication, and positive attitude make my job even more amazing than it already is!” said Buchanan. “She is so dedicated to learning. I’m happy to hear that she wants to teach at HFC! Even though she’s transferred next door, she still keeps in touch with me. I’m very proud of her and think she’ll be a great asset to any community college classroom.”