Patricia A. Burden chose to attend a pre-dominantly white college after reading about scholarships to help integrate schools in Ebony Magazine. She chose East Carolina University because it was close to her home. Patricia enrolled at ECU in 1965 and was one of fifteen African America students. While at ECU, she was involved with the Black Student Union Organization and a Baptist Church Group. She graduated in 1969 having studied mathematics and education. After graduating, she worked in Education in Philadelphia and Pensacola before returning to North Carolina as a high school principal in Goldsboro.

Listen to and read a transcription of her oral history

Citation
Patricia Burden oral history interview, May 6, 2008. First in the Family Oral History Collection. UA45-05. University Archives, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/1265