Dr. Kenneth Patterson, BA, MA, EdD, joins Mercy College of Ohio as Dean of Arts & Sciences and Academic Administration
The Reverend Dr. Kenneth Patterson, BA, MA, EdD, joined Mercy College of Ohio as Dean of Arts & Sciences and Academic Administration in November 2024. In this role, Dr. Patterson will provide academic leadership and direction for the Division of Arts & Sciences, as well as manage Academic Administration operations for the college.
Dr. Patterson holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education and Adult Learning from the Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences at Walden University, a member of Adtalem Global Education, Inc. He also earned a Master of Arts in Communication Arts from the College of Fine Arts at The University of Montevallo in Montevallo, Alabama. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication and Theatre from Howard College of Arts & Sciences at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.
His recent service in Higher Education includes positions of Vice President of Academic Affairs/Dean of Faculty at Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio, and Vice President of Instruction and Student Services at Luna Community College (HSI) in Las Vegas, New Mexico, where he also held the post of Interim President during 2020 and 2021. Recent work with Total Respiratory, a national respiratory medical supply and equipment company, has included the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms for use with provider and patient education protocols for improved patient outcomes.
Specializing in academic administration, Dr. Patterson has worked as an independent consultant in the field of Higher Education and Adult Learning and as an online program/course delivery designer. Past collaborations include work with the Institute for Higher Education Policy and the Lumina Foundation while serving as Faculty and Assessment Coordinator for Miles College (HBCU) in Birmingham, Alabama. Recent professional activities include nationally recognized research in the field of transformative learning applied to peer education of high-risk cultural group in areas of HIV prevention. Ongoing research activities include exploration of transformative learning in cultural groups and effective practices used in creating effective learning communities. With experience in academic program management and student retention, Patterson enjoys a pragmatic and purpose-driven approach to Higher Education operations, providing optimal academic and professional opportunities for students and faculty.
Dr. Patterson was recently awarded the Minority Advocacy Award, a lifetime achievement award presented by the Walk With Me Foundation, in recognition of his extensive work with minority higher education access. According to Dr. Terrance Brown, executive director of Walk With Me Foundation, the honor is reserved for individuals who have demonstrated “a commitment to the advancement of equity and accessibility for all learners, especially those in marginalized minority populations.” Brown said Dr. Patterson had made notable achievements while expanding beneficial educational and career opportunities for African-American students and, more recently, students within a predominantly Hispanic community. “He has consistently advocated for disenfranchised populations and continues to do so throughout his career, both on an institutional and an individual basis. His comportment in these tasks is characterized by a proactive and positive disposition that is a credit to the higher education students and communities he has served.”
Dr. Patterson currently resides in Toledo with his spouse of 18 years, Mr. Kevin Thomas, who is the Regional Manager for Total Respiratory operations in the state of Ohio and northern Kentucky.
