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Students First. Murray State Always. Racers Forever.

Dr. Ron K. Patterson joined Murray State University as president on July 1, 2025. He was unanimously selected by the Board of Regents and members of the Presidential Search Committee following a comprehensive nationwide search. With more than two decades of leadership experience in higher education, he is committed to expanding academic initiatives, advancing student success, and cultivating collaborative partnerships on and off campus.

Prior to joining Murray State, Patterson served two years as President at Chadron State College (CSC) where he worked to enhance teaching and scholarship across a broad portfolio of academic programs and community engagement initiatives. Under his leadership, CSC launched new partnerships to boost enrollment, launched new workforce ready academic programs, launched new technology initiatives to support student success and retention, established a laptop anytime program for students who do not have access to technology, forged 2+2 pathways for both transfer and current students to institutions and academic health science centers, and launched the development of a new strategic plan.

Dr. Patterson served for seven years in numerous leadership positions as associate vice president for enrollment management, chief enrollment officer, and chief enrollment officer and special assistant to the president at the University of North Alabama (UNA). Patterson led the institution to 14 consecutive terms of record enrollment. Dr. Patterson also successfully assisted in raising millions of dollars from philanthropic and governmental entities to support the institutional enterprise. He led, developed, and implemented several student success and retention initiatives, served on the university-wide strategic planning committee, and collaborated with campus stakeholders and legislators on major new construction and renovation projects. During his time at UNA and through his efforts, one center and a program were named and a program was endowed after obtaining significant philanthropic contributions.

His early career encompassed 14 years as an administrator at Marietta College in Ohio, University of Central Arkansas, and University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Christian Brothers University in Memphis. He spent four years as an assistant men鈥檚 basketball coach and head men鈥檚 golf coach at Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee, and Marietta College. His 25 years of higher education experience has developed Patterson toward a collaborative-servant leader approach which values access and affordability, continuous improvement, and innovation.

He is a visionary, scholar-practitioner and possesses a wealth of experience in higher education leadership, strategic planning, assessment, and accreditation. An interdisciplinary leader by training, his research focuses on continuous improvement in higher education. Patterson鈥檚 commitment as a servant leader takes many forms. He has traveled extensively to foster positive relationships between institutions. He has collaborated with governmental agencies in such countries as The People鈥檚 Republic of China and Democratic Republic of the Congo to enroll students. At the local and regional level, he often volunteers at community-related functions and speaks frequently to civic groups, professional associations, and community agencies and organizations.

Patterson earned a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration and Leadership at Creighton University, an Education Specialist degree with a concentration in Community College Administration at Arkansas State University, a Master of Arts at Marietta College, a Bachelor of Science at the University of Tennessee 鈥� Southern, and an Associate of Arts at Northeast Mississippi Community College. He recently completed professional development offered by the American Academic Leadership Institute and Penn State University鈥檚 Academic Leadership Academy for Academic Administration.

President Patterson believes that higher education is about relationships, resilience, and realization. His interactions with students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, legislators and friends of the university fosters collaboration, inspires partnerships, and continues the tradition of Murray State University, the finest place we know.

Patterson and his wife, Jenny, have two children, Olivia, and Braylon, and a dog named Tundra.

Fun Facts:

President Patterson relaxes by researching and preparing meals for family.
He is passionate about students, their story, their experiences, and their 鈥渨hy鈥�.
His favorite color is navy blue, GO RACERS!

Jenny Patterson proudly serves as the First Lady of Murray State University. She possesses responsibilities in event participation, planning and execution, fundraising and donor engagement, student advocacy, care for others, community engagement, and many more commitments.

A passionate teacher with a love for education, First Lady Patterson attended Midway College (now Midway University) in Midway, Kentucky. She earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in teacher education. Mrs. Patterson was a four-year starter and captain on the women鈥檚 soccer team. She was an All-American goalie whose jersey was retired in 1999. She earned a master鈥檚 degree in education with a concentration in K-12 at Tusculum College (now Tusculum University). Prior to starting a career in teaching, Jenny served as an assistant coach for women鈥檚 soccer for four years at Tusculum College. Jenny鈥檚 career spanned over 20 years in Elementary Education. She is licensed in four states. She has taught or subbed in Chadron Public Schools, Florence City Schools, Child Study Center at the University of Central Arkansas and Memphis City Schools.

Jenny鈥檚 current passion in higher education is students, access to education, affordability, supporting campus community activities, events and programs.

Mrs. Patterson gracefully balances her teaching, University functions, supporting the President and parenting responsibilities. She and President Patterson are the proud parents to two children --- Olivia and Braylon. Jenny enjoys reading, biking, hiking, spending time with family, and cheering on the Racers!