GSA Blog

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is commemorating Women’s History Month throughout March. The theme for the month is Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government. In highlighting the women of GSA throughout the month of March, we are sharing their stories every Monday on the GSA blog.

Pamela Collins, Deputy Director, Real Estate Acquisition Division

What was your path to public service?

I started working for the government when I was 19 as a way to supplement my college expenses. I saw my clerk typist job as temporary while I completed my degree and choose a career. After my first six months I saw all the important work that the U.S. General Services Administration was accomplishing and wanted to be a part of the organization. I applied for and was accepted into GSA’s Real Estate Intern Program. This four-year career program was the catalyst to my career in real estate. Twenty-five years later, not only have I found my career, but my passion for real estate.

Is there a woman in American History that inspires you? 

Shirley Chisholm inspires me. Shirley believed strongly in public service and didn’t fear traveling down uncharted career paths. She began her career as a teacher. She was the director of a child care center in New York, then an educational consultant for the New York City’s Bureau of Child Welfare. In 1968, she became the first African-American to elected to Congress, where she worked on the Education and Labor Committee and helped form the Black Caucus. In 1972, she made history again by becoming the first black woman of a major party to run for a presidential nomination. After serving seven terms in the House, Shirley retired from office to go back to teaching and to work as a public speaker. She never let “the road less traveled” be the reason not to learn or achieve more.

How do you contribute to the mission of GSA? 

In my current role as the Deputy Director for Region 9, Real Estate Acquisition Division, I assist in setting the objectives for a real estate portfolio that includes federal revenues of $443.5 million and leasing revenues of $556 million. My position includes deciding how to deal with a space portfolio of 34 million square feet of space. I have received numerous awards for outstanding service but the career achievement I’m most proud of is the getting 395 thousand square feet of space furnished and operational in four days for the Department of Defense after the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon.

What specific life lesson do you hope to inspire in others while at GSA?

GSA is a family. We share a strong commitment to our work and to our organization. At each phase of my growth at GSA, I was supported by leadership that encouraged me to expand my knowledge and be the best. The relationships you build in the organization are lifelong friendships. There are many different opportunities within the organization that that allow you to follow your career desires while serving the greater good with public service. There is a place in the organization for you at any phase in your career.

What advice would you give girls who want to have careers in public service?

If I were to pass on an important piece of advice to a young ladies thinking about starting a career in public service it would be to stay open to new challenges. Look for opportunities to learn more about the organization and embrace the formal and informal mentor relationships you build within the government.