I had the pleasure and privilege of working with Dr. Patterson in monthly didactic sessions over the course of one year. These sessions were professionally and personally transformative for me. Dr. Patterson is able to communicate a great depth and breadth of historical, sociocultural, and psychological information related to how race and ethnicity are viewed in modern American culture. This is truly difficult to accomplish in a workplace setting. Truly communicating the information is quite different than simply providing the information. This is an advantage that Dr. Patterson brings to her seminars, an excellent ability to communicate complex information in a non-threatening way. Dr. Patterson’s teaching style provides opportunities for critical self-reflection and growth even for those acquainted with the subject matter.

 

The true value of Dr. Patterson’s teaching is in the way she approaches the subject matter. Good teachers act as guides and instructors. This guidance requires compassion and expertise. It can be difficult to engage in conversations about race without some hesitation. As a white male I have felt reluctant to participate in such conversations out of fear of saying the wrong thing or being perceived as prejudiced. Dr. Patterson provided an environment where I felt safe to explore complex issues related to race in society and my place in interacting with them. I felt challenged, accepted, and validated in my ideas and experiences.

 

Dr. Patterson never fails to neglect how our personal selves interact with our professional selves. I found her teaching to not only change the way I interacted in the workplace, but how I viewed my family and wider social circle. Furthermore, her teaching is imminently adaptable to a variety of settings and purposes as she deftly integrates her understanding of human psychology and learning into her teaching.