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Patricia R. Cole (deceased, 2001) graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Speech Pathology and Education, an M.A. in Communication Disorders, and a Ph.D. in Communication. She began her professional career as a speech and hearing therapist in Abilene public schools. In 1971, Cole helped found the Austin Center for Speech, Language, and Learning Disorders and served as co-director until 1984 when she became director.
Cole’s career focused on policy development and governmental affairs relating not only to the areas of speech, language, and learning disorders, but also to issues concerning the elderly, chemical dependency, and family violence. She held numerous elected and appointed positions in the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association, including director of governmental affairs, national Congressional liaison, and chair of the State Legislative Committee. Cole also served as the Congressional Contact Network Leader of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
After serving as Executive Officer and Governmental Affairs Director of the Texas Chemical Dependency Association from 1986-1991, Cole was appointed Director of Health and Human Services Policy under Texas Governor Ann Richards. She has also been a public policy consultant for such organizations as the Texas Communities in Schools program and the Texas Council on Family Violence.
Cole was the Associate Director of the National Training Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence. In addition to directing a project for welfare recipients who were victims of domestic violence, she worked with state agencies and the Texas Legislature on domestic violence policy development and implementation.
Cole was named to the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Her publications include the book Language Disorders in Preschool Children and several book chapters and journal articles.