Mary Jean Collins, 1939-

Mary Jean Collins, Action Vice President and National Board member of the National Organization for Women (NOW), was born December 8, 1939, in Superior, Washington. She graduated from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, majoring in history with minors in English and theology. In 1968, she married Jim Robson; they divorced in 1974. MJC worked in various administrative positions at Taylor Electric in Milwaukee, Allied Radio Corporation in Chicago, and Westinghouse Electric Corporation in Chicago. From 1975 to 1979, she worked in the collective bargaining program of the Illinois Nurses Association and in 1985, she began working for Catholics for a Free Choice.

MJC held several positions in NOW. She was Midwest Regional Director (1970-1972), a member of the National Board, where she was in charge of task forces (1972-1975), president of Chicago NOW (1978-1980), Executive Director of Chicago NOW (1979), co-director of the NOW equal rights (ERA) campaign (1980-1982), and served as National Action Vice President (1982-1985).