Higgins holds a bachelor of arts degree from Lincoln Christian College. She also received a master of arts degree and a doctorate from Indiana University. Prior to joining Milligan’s faculty, she served as a translation consultant and research associate for United Bible Societies. She also worked as research librarian and lecturer at Lincoln Christian College. Higgins has completed post-graduate work as a honorary fellow of the Faculty of Divinity at Edinburgh University. Between 1977 and 1993 she worked summers with The Toronto Institute of Linguistics, a missionary training program held on the campus of Victoria University. From 1982-1993, she was the TIL Program Director.
Higgins is a member of the American Society of Missiology where she has served on the Board of Directors and the Board of Publications. She served as president of the Association of Professors of Mission in 2000. Higgins has published numerous articles and papers. She has been a representative at the Stone-Campbell Dialogue gatherings and has served as a Volunteer Chaplain at the Johnson City Medical Center Hospital.
Topics of Expertise: Aspects of Translation and Translation Theory; Current Trends in Modern Missions; Interrelationships of Language and Culture