Murray State president to speak at Hopkinsville town hall

Dr. Ron K. Patterson, who joined the university last summer, is slated to attend the town hall at noon Monday, April 6, at the Hopkinsville Municipal Center.

Dr. Ron K. Patterson, who became president of Murray State University last summer, will speak during a Mayor’s Town Hall meeting at noon on Monday, April 6, at the Hopkinsville Municipal Center, 715 S. Virginia St.

Local residents, business owners and community stakeholders are encouraged to attend to engage with Patterson for a “meaningful conversation,” Mayor James. R. Knight Jr. said in a press release. 

Ron Patterson at podium
Ron Patterson will be the 15th president of Murray State University. He’ll take the reins as head of Racer Nation in July. (WKMS photo by Derek Operle)

Patterson will “share updates and insights on higher education, regional partnerships and opportunities impacting Hopkinsville and surrounding communities,” the release states. 

Prior to joining Murray State, Patterson was president of Chadron State College in Nebraska. He came with 25 years of experience in higher education, “including various administrative roles in admissions, enrollment, and diversity, equity and inclusion,” WKMS, the public radio station at Murray, reported in July. 

“One of Patterson’s biggest aims, as he said during many of his interviews before assuming leadership at Murray State, is to be available not only to students, faculty and staff, but also the wider community,” Derek Operle, WKMS news director, wrote. “To that end, in the fall, Patterson hopes to launch what he’s called the Racer Spirit Listening Tour to get input from various communities and constituent groups across the region. He said that stops for it will be announced in the coming weeks.”

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