Dr. Dana Murray Patterson 

Dr. Dana Murray Patterson is the Director of Intercultural Affairs at Western Carolina University. Formerly, Director of the Bolinga Black Cultural Resources Center at Wright State University, she has worked in higher education for more than 25 years. Previous experiences include serving as Director of the Coretta Scott King Center for Cultural and Intellectual Freedom at Antioch College, Director of the Talmadge Anderson Heritage House for Black Studies at Washington State University, and Director of the Multicultural Resource Center at Emporia State University. Dana has worked extensively in residence life, judicial affairs, and leadership development.  She has presented locally, nationally, and internationally on issues related to diversity, cultural identity, and intersectionality.

In 2006, Dana completed her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration at Washington State University with an emphasis on Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education.  She completed her B.A. in Social Science at Berea College (1992) and her M.A. in Student Personnel Services in Higher Education at Eastern Kentucky University (1998). 

Dana has four adult children including a son and three daughters.