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Racer Spirit Listening and Learning Tour

From President Ron K. Patterson

With a great sense of gratitude and excitement, I am pleased to share that our Murray State University Racer Spirit Listening and Learning Tour concluded in November 2025! This key initiative launched in July with a vision of connecting with as many constituent groups as possible during my first 100 days as Murray State President. We visited many locations throughout the Commonwealth, a multi-state region, and on our campus to engage with our students, faculty, staff, alumni, community leaders, K-12 and community college partners, business and industry stakeholders, and friends.

As you read more at the link below, you will see the key themes that emerged from the tour. This information will pave the way for a new University Strategic Plan 鈥� a shared vision that will chart the course for a new five-year plan through 2030.

I am excited to engage with you on this strategic planning process as we race ahead toward continued excellence.

Thank you for your unwavering support of Murray State University. Go Racers!

Sincerely, 
Ron K. Patterson, Ed.D.
President

Racer Spirit Listening and Learning Tour Report

Tour 鈥� By the Numbers

36

sessions

1,290

attendees

132

online responses

344

faculty

37

staff

127

students

18

states

21

Kentucky counties

914

alumni & friends

823

miles traveled from Murray

Meet Dr. Patterson

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!