Racer Spirit Listening and Learning Tour
Racer Spirit Listening and Learning Tour
An Introduction from President Ron K. Patterson
With deep gratitude and excitement, I am honored to begin my service as the 15th President of Murray State University. Over the past few months, I鈥檝e had the pleasure of connecting with many members of our Racer community鈥攁lumni, students, faculty, staff, and partners鈥攅ach with a heartfelt story about what this University means to them. These conversations have reaffirmed two powerful themes that define Murray State: community and excellence.
As I embark on my first 100鈥120 days, I am launching the Racer Spirit Listening and Learning Tour. This effort is designed to engage and hear directly from you鈥攐ur students, faculty, staff, alumni, community leaders, K-12 and community college partners, business and industry stakeholders, and friends across Kentucky and beyond.
My goal is simple but vital: to listen, to learn, and to gain a deeper understanding of how Murray State can lift up our communities, our region, and the Commonwealth we proudly serve.
Through open dialogue and collaboration, we will strengthen what makes Murray State exceptional and uncover new opportunities to grow and serve. I look forward to meeting you鈥攊n your towns, on our campuses, and everywhere the Racer Spirit lives.
Together, let鈥檚 shape the future of the 鈥淔inest Place We Know.鈥
Tour Stops
Murray State alumni, friends and stakeholders are encouraged to share their thoughts in a to help us gain a deeper understanding of how Murray State University can lift up our communities, our region, and the Commonwealth we proudly serve. Check out the tour schedule for dates and locations
Tour Schedule
Plan to attend?
Murray, Kentucky - Thursday, July 24, 2025
- Town & Gown Breakfast
7:30 a.m. 鈥 CFSB Center, Murray Room
Paducah, Kentucky - Thursday, August 7, 2025
- Paducah Chamber of Commerce 鈥 Power in Partnership Breakfast
7:30 a.m. 鈥 McCracken County Convention and Exposition Center - West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Dr. Anton Reece and Cabinet
Paducah Regional Campus
Mayfield, Kentucky - Monday, August 11, 2025
- Mayor Kathy O鈥橬an 鈥 City Hall
- Rotary Club of Mayfield
12:00 Noon 鈥 Mayfield-Graves County Country Club - FNB Bank, Inc.
5-7 p.m. - 101 E. Broadway, Mayfield, KY
Public Event - . Hors d'oeuvres will be served
Paducah, Kentucky - Wednesday, August 20, 2025
- Leadership Kentucky
Paducah Regional Campus
Hopkinsville, Kentucky - Thursday, August 21, 2025
- Murray State University Hopkinsville Campus
5-7 p.m. - 5305 Fort Campbell Blvd, Hopkinsville, KY
Public Event - . Hors d'oeuvres will be served
Henderson, Kentucky - Friday, August 22, 2025
- Hometown Roots (Gatsby Room)
5-7 pm. - 136 2nd St, Henderson, KY
Public Event - . Hors d'oeuvres will be served
Cadiz, Kentucky - Tuesday, August 26, 2025
- Cadiz Rotary Club
12:00 Noon 鈥 Johnston-Tyler Community Center - Trigg County High School
1:30 p.m.
Atlanta, Georgia - Saturday, September 13, 2025
- Alumni Event 鈥 Wood鈥檚 Chapel BBQ
4-6 p.m. ET, 85 Georgia Ave SE, Atlanta
Public Event - - Murray State Football @ Georgia State - 7 p.m. ET Kick-off
Louisville, Kentucky - Monday September 15, 2025
- More information is coming soon!
Eddyville, Kentucky - Wednesday, September 17, 2025
- WKEC Board Meeting
10:00 a.m. - WKEC Conference Center
Murray, Kentucky - Thursday, September 25, 2025
- Rotary Club of Murray
12:00 Noon 鈥 Murray Country Club
Nashville, Tennessee - Monday, October 13, 2025
- More information is coming soon!
Madisonville, Kentucky - Thursday, October 16, 2025
- More information is coming soon!
St. Louis, Missouri - Monday, October 20, 2025
- More information is coming soon!
Hopkinsville, Kentucky - Thursday, October 23, 2025
- Hopkinsville-Christian County Human Rights Commission Unity Breakfast
Additional events are being planned! Check back here for additional updates.
We want to hear from you
Murray State alumni, friends and stakeholders are encouraged to share their thoughts in a to help us gain a deeper understanding of how Murray State University can lift up our communities, our region, and the Commonwealth we proudly serve.
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!