BPL's Dr. Reba Patton Earns Doctorate from the University of Alabama
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By Roy L. Williams, Public Relations Specialist, Birmingham Public Library
One of the
Birmingham Public Library's own is about to achieve one of the highest academic
honors possible.
Dr.
Reba Patton Branch Manager of the Titusville Branch
Library, has earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Communication and
Information Sciences from The University of Alabama. She will be formally
conferred her degree during the University’s commencement exercises on Saturday,
August 1, at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa.
The completion of this distinguished
academic achievement represents years of sustained scholarship, personal
sacrifice, perseverance, and faith. Throughout her doctoral studies, Dr.
Williams-Patton successfully balanced the extensive demands of advanced
research with her professional responsibilities as a full-time manager and
adjunct professor, as well as her commitments as a wife and mother.
Demonstrating exceptional academic
distinction, she completed the rigorous doctoral program with a cumulative
grade point average of 3.99.
Her doctoral research critically
examined the complex social and informational ecosystems that shape collective
experiences, with particular emphasis on the dynamic interplay among
information access, civic participation, collaborative engagement, and social
equity. The study further investigated how community-engaged frameworks may
cultivate agency, strengthen inclusive participation, and facilitate
sustainable social transformation.
I recently had the privilege of
speaking with Dr. Williams-Patton about her scholarly journey, the significance
of completing this academic milestone, and the personal and professional
meaning of earning the highest degree in her discipline.
BPL: What emotions are you feeling as you prepare to walk across the stage on August 1?
Dr.
Patton: Gratitude
is the emotion that resonates most deeply. I am profoundly grateful to God,
whose faithfulness sustained me throughout this journey; to my family for their
unwavering support; and to my dissertation committee for their mentorship.
Crossing the stage at Coleman Coliseum represents far more than earning a doctoral degree. It symbolizes a groundbreaking personal and professional milestone, the culmination of years of perseverance, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to scholarship. It also represents joining a relatively small community of individuals who have attained the highest academic credential in the field.
For
me, the title "Dr." is not simply a personal accomplishment; it is a
responsibility to lead, to innovate, to challenge conventional thinking, and to
create opportunities for others. I hope my journey demonstrates that meaningful
scholarship can inspire transformative change and encourage future generations
to pursue possibilities they may have once believed were beyond their reach.
BPL:
What inspired you to pursue a doctoral degree, and how did you choose
Philosophy?
Dr.
Patton: My
Ph.D. is in Communication and Information Sciences from the University of
Alabama, where my interdisciplinary research agenda employed qualitative
inquiry and Community-Based Participatory Research to critically examine the
reciprocal relationships among social, cultural, and information ecosystems
through the conceptual lenses of information poverty and information
empowerment. This scholarship culminated in the development of a Community-Centered Engagement Framework that advances participatory
epistemologies, collaborative knowledge production, and community-responsive
models of interdisciplinary research and societal transformation.
Balancing
Work, Family, and Education
BPL:
How did you balance the demands of work, family, and pursuing a doctorate?
Dr. Patton: Successfully navigating doctoral study required intentionality, disciplined self-governance, and an unwavering commitment to purpose. My faith provided the foundation for every decision I made, followed by my responsibilities as a wife, mother, branch manager, and adjunct professor. I cultivated a highly structured routine in which physical wellness, intellectual engagement, professional responsibilities, and family commitments were not viewed as competing priorities but as interdependent dimensions of a purpose-driven life.
Beginning
each day with physical training established the discipline, resilience, and
mental clarity necessary to sustain the rigorous demands of scholarly inquiry.
Every available hour beyond my professional and family responsibilities was
intentionally dedicated to research, writing, and intellectual reflection.
Rather than pursuing balance as an endpoint, I embraced integration, allowing
each role to inform and strengthen my development as a scholar, educator,
leader, and servant committed to advancing interdisciplinary research and
meaningful societal impact.
BPL:
What role did your husband and children play in helping you reach this
milestone?
Dr.
Patton: Their
role was immeasurable. This achievement is as much a family accomplishment as
it is an individual one. Throughout this journey, my family provided unwavering
encouragement, steadfast support, and countless sacrifices that enabled me to
remain fully committed to the rigorous demands of doctoral scholarship.
One of the
greatest gifts of this experience was witnessing my son mature academically
alongside me. As I engaged in the process of scholarly inquiry, he was
simultaneously developing his own habits of learning, discipline, and
intellectual curiosity. In many respects, we evolved as students together,
encouraging one another to pursue excellence and demonstrating that education
is a lifelong pursuit of discovery rather than merely the attainment of a
credential. It is my hope that, as he continues his own academic journey, he
will one day critically engage with my research, build upon the
Community-Centered Engagement Framework, and extend its theoretical and
practical contributions in ways that reflect his own scholarly vision and
address the evolving challenges of future generations.
As I walk
across the stage at Coleman Coliseum, I will do so with profound gratitude,
knowing this milestone reflects our collective sacrifices, unwavering faith,
and shared commitment to a vision greater than any one individual. Although I
will receive the diploma, this doctorate represents the perseverance, love, and
enduring support of my entire family.
Leadership
and Inspiration
BPL:
What was the most rewarding moment of your doctoral journey?
Dr.
Patton: The
most rewarding aspect of my doctoral journey was the intellectual
transformation it inspired and the interdisciplinary opportunities it afforded
me. Throughout this experience, I developed as a scholar, presenter, speaker,
advocate, orator, and change agent while engaging in research that extended
beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. The journey challenged me to think
more critically, communicate more effectively, and recognize the broader
societal implications of my scholarship.
Equally
significant was the mentorship I received throughout the doctoral process. My
dissertation chair continually challenged me to pursue opportunities that
extended well beyond my own expectations, encouraging me to present at national
conferences, publish scholarly work, collaborate across disciplines, and
envision contributions that reached far beyond the completion of a
dissertation. His mentorship instilled the confidence to pursue opportunities I
might not have considered on my own and reinforced the importance of
surrounding oneself with mentors who not only recognize potential but actively
cultivate it.
BPL:
How do you hope your story inspires others pursuing their educational goals?
Dr.
Patton: I
hope others recognize that their potential should never be determined by the
perceptions or limitations imposed by others. Meaningful achievement requires
the willingness to embrace uncertainty, pursue purpose with intentionality, and
allow one's work to become the most compelling testimony of one's vision. There
is profound value in moving with quiet confidence, allowing excellence,
integrity, and sustained achievement to speak more eloquently than words ever
could.
Looking
Ahead
BPL:
How do you plan to apply your research and experience moving forward?
Dr.
Patton: My
doctoral journey represents the beginning rather than the culmination of my
scholarly work. I look forward to continuing to refine, expand, and apply my
research through future scholarship, interdisciplinary collaborations, and
opportunities that align with my broader research agenda.
BPL:
What's next for Dr. Reba Patton?
Dr.
Patton: I
have come to appreciate the value of quiet preparation and intentional action.
Some opportunities are best revealed through accomplishment rather than
announcement. The best is yet to come.
Background
on Dr. Patton:
Current Title and Years at BPL: Branch Manager, Titusville
Branch Library. I have served the Birmingham Public Library for a number of
years.
Favorite
book and why: My
favorite book is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho because it illustrates
the transformative journey of discovering one's purpose through perseverance,
faith, and resilience. The novel reminds me that meaningful change begins with
the courage to pursue one's calling despite uncertainty and obstacles. As an
interdisciplinary scholar in Communication and Information Sciences, I find its
message particularly meaningful because it reflects my own commitment to
advancing community-centered scholarship, fostering information empowerment,
and creating sustainable change through research, collaboration, and service.
The book continually reinforces my belief that personal growth and social
transformation are achieved by remaining steadfast in one's purpose while
empowering others along the journey.
What
you enjoy most about working as a librarian at BPL: The opportunity to engage in
interdisciplinary, community-centered praxis that bridges scholarship, civic
engagement, and collaborative partnerships to cultivate sustainable community
capacity, advance information empowerment, and facilitate transformative social
change.
One
word that describes your journey and why: Perseverance has been the defining
characteristic of my academic and professional journey. Balancing the
responsibilities of serving as a full-time branch manager, adjunct professor,
wife, and mother to student-athletes while pursuing doctoral scholarship
demanded unwavering discipline, resilience, and intentionality. This journey
was characterized by early mornings, late evenings, and an enduring commitment
to intellectual growth despite competing responsibilities. Rather than viewing
these obligations as barriers, I embraced them as opportunities to strengthen
my resolve and deepen my purpose. Earning a doctorate represents more than the
completion of an academic milestone; it reflects a steadfast commitment to
lifelong learning, transformational leadership, and the pursuit of scholarship
that contributes to meaningful and lasting societal change.
Coffee
or tea during dissertation writing: Coffee,
without apology. My dissertation was written one cup at a time.
Best
piece of advice you ever received: Don't
spend your life waiting for a seat at someone else's table. Build the table God
has called you to create and leave enough room for others to discover their
purpose beside you. This philosophy has profoundly shaped both my personal and
professional journey. It reminds me that purpose is not found in waiting for
opportunities or seeking validation from others, but in faithfully pursuing the
vision God has entrusted to me. As I continue to grow as a scholar and leader,
I strive to use my gifts to create opportunities, cultivate meaningful
partnerships, and empower others to discover and develop their own unique
calling.
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