Kenn Patterson

An Alabama native, Kenneth Gregory Patterson comes to Wilmington, Ohio as the Dean of Academic Affairs/Dean of Faculty at Wilmington College. Kenn earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication and Theatre from Samford University in Birmingham, and a Master of Arts Degree in Communication Arts from The University of Montevallo, in Montevallo, Alabama. He holds a Doctor of Education degree (EdD) in Higher Education and Adult Learning from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His most recent experience in Higher Education included positions of Vice President of Instruction & Student Services at Luna Community College in Las Vegas, New Mexico, where he also held the post of Interim President during 2020 and 2021. He has recently worked with the Institute for Higher Education Policy and The Lumina Foundation while serving as faculty and Assessment Coordinator for Miles College (HBCU) in Birmingham. He has also worked with the Hoover Public Library in Hoover, Alabama, one of the nation’s leading public libraries. Specializing in academic administration, Kenn has worked as an independent consultant in the field of Higher Education and Adult Learning and as an online program/course delivery designer. Recent professional activities include nationally recognized research in the field of transformative learning applied to peer education of high-risk cultural groups in the area of HIV prevention. Ongoing research activities include exploration of transformative learning in cultural groups and effective practices used in creating higher education learning communities. With experience in academic program management and student retention, Patterson enjoys a pragmatic and purpose-driven approach to higher education, providing optimal academic and professional opportunities for students and faculty. He was recently awarded the Minority Advocacy Award, a lifetime achievement award presented by the Walk With Me Foundation, in recognition of his extensive work in minority higher education access.