Millennium Magazine_4th Ed

92 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine EDUCATION Design in Providence between 1987 and 1991. She was also a consultant for Alexander J. Patton in Warwick, Rhode Island, for one year and was the director of a textile trading company. Dr. Helms has contributed a number of articles to professional journals and has authoredmyriad technical publications in the field. A frequent speaker as well, she has maintainedmembership with the editorial review board of the American Society for Quality and the standards review committee of ASTM International. Likewise, she sat on the consumer affairs committee of the American Apparel Manufacturers Association and is a member of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the textile industry, Dr. Helms was a grantee of the University of Rhode Island Foundation and Burlington Industries. She was also highlighted in the 18th edition of Who’s Who of American Women in 1992. I nspired to enter the field of home economics by her own high school teacher, Dr. Patricia Ann Helms commenced her career as a student at Bradley University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in vocational home economics in 1958. At the inception of her career, she served as an educator at Bartonville High School in Illinois and Palmetto Junior High School in Miami. From there, Dr. Helms was a textile specialist for the agriculture extension agent in Dade County, Florida, for five years before earning a Master of Science in textile and clothing and PhD in textiles from Florida State University in 1970 and 1971, respectively. Subsequent to earning a doctorate degree, Dr. Helms became an assistant professor in textiles, merchandising and design at the University of Rhode Island in Kingstown in 1971, holding the position for 18 years. Ascending the ranks to associate professor in 1989, she served in the role for a decade before attaining emeritus status in 1999. During her tenure in education, Dr. Helms served as a visiting scholar and distinguished visiting professor at the Rhode Island School of PATRICIA ANN HELMS, PHD PROFESSOR EMERITUS University of Rhode Island Wakefield, RI