Patricia L. Hardaway

Patricia Lofton Hardaway consults with higher education institutions, health centers, and businesses on matters involving governance, strategic planning, organizational change, and policy. Prior to joining Hebrew Union College, Pat’s consulting engagements included Palmer College of Chiropractic, Trinity College, and health clinics in New York City. Pat led Wilberforce University as its 19th President from July 2008 to December 2014 and only the second woman to do so in the University’s 158 year history. A respected attorney and long-time University administrator, Dr. Hardaway earned her BA in Sociology at Wilberforce. She returned to the University in Fall 2007 as University Provost; and immediately thereafter, also was named Vice President of Academic Affairs. The Board of Trustees elected Dr. Hardaway to Interim President in July 2008 and to the Presidency in March 2009. Prior to joining the University administration, Dr. Hardaway served as a University Trustee, becoming the first woman elected to Chair the Wilberforce University Board of Trustees.

Dr. Hardaway’s academic career assuring college access and success for students spanned twenty-five years at well respected research universities and liberal arts colleges including: the University Of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public And International Affairs; Rutgers University, the New Brunswick Provost’s Office; Fairleigh Dickinson University; and Chatham College. Dr. Hardaway also served on the Board of Trustees of the New York Theological Seminary.

In addition to her outstanding academic career, Dr. Hardaway built a vibrant private legal practice representing corporate clients in traditional labor matters and complex employment discrimination litigation before the federal and state courts of New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Attorney Hardaway also guided and conducted regulatory related internal investigations for a major pharmaceutical corporation, where she provided legal and business operation advice to senior leaders in multiple manufacturing, research, sales, and corporate business divisions in the US, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Patricia L. Hardaway is a developer of strategies and ideas; she coaches people to achieve increased capabilities and acquire new skill sets in her professional and community volunteer roles. Dr. Hardaway frequently is an invited speaker on legal, business, governance, and ethics topics for continuing legal education classes, professional association conferences, and business and industry organizations. She conducts training for corporate executives, managers, and supervisors on a wide range of management and higher education topics.

Dr. Hardaway holds a Juris Doctor Degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law; and a Masters of Public Works Degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public And International Affairs.

In 2013, she was elected Chair of The Interlink Alliance, a consortium of eight colleges and Universities. She served for a time as Secretary of the Executive Board of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio (AICUO), as a Board member of the Greater Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, and Dayton Rotary Club. Pat served as President of the Camp NEJEDA Foundation, Inc. Board which sponsors a residential camp for children living with diabetes.

Currently, Patricia serves on the Board of the Palmer College of Chiropractic and the board for the Azubuike African American Council for the Arts. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the College and University Personnel Association.