Odessa Patrick received her B.S. in Biology from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University in 1956. She received her M.A. in Biology from UNCG in 1969.
In 1958, she was hired as a lab technician at Woman’s College. As a lab technician, Patrick was the first African American academic staff member of the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina (now UNCG). She continued as a lab technician from 1958 until 1969, when she became an instructor in the Biology Department.
Patrick taught principles of biology, an vertebrate physiology lab, an invertebrate zoology lab, and mammalian anatomy. She was also vigorously involved in the campus community serving as an academic advisor, faculty advisor, laboratory coordinator, graduate advisor for the Omicron Eta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and as the treasurer of the Black Faculty/Staff Association. Ms. Patrick received UNCG’s Martin Luther King Jr. Service Award in 1991. In addition, she was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Patrick retired on June 30, 1996 after 38 years of dedicated service to the UNCG community.
Entry by Lucy Mason, summer 2015 intern; Edited by Cecil Barlow, 2025