University of North Alabama Vice President of Diversity Dr Ron Patterson has been introduced as the 12th president of Chadron State College, ending a search process that began with 73 applicants for the post.
He succeeds Dr Randy Rhine, who is retiring at the end of June after 18 years at Chadron State, the last 11 as president or interim president. Dr Patterson has one tie to Nebraska – his doctorate is from Creighton University.
     Patterson was introduced to the campus and community this afternoon in a news conference at the school. He says he fell in love with Chadron State almost as soon as he read the college’s invitation to apply.
Patterson says his first move as president will be a listening tour of the campus, community, and surrounding area to get a first-hand feel for how CSC is perceived and how it can best serve its constituents.
Patterson has held multiple leadership roles at North Alabama, but has also been an administrator at 4 other colleges of various sizes after beginning his career in education as an instructor and college men’s basketball coach. He feels that varied experience is the strongest asset he brings to Chadron State.
Patterson was accompanied today by his wife, a first-grade teacher and soccer coach, and their two children, a daughter who is graduating from high school and a son completing 7th grade.Â
The family will move to Chadron after the end of the school year in Florence, although the daughter will head back there this fall as a freshman at North Alabama on a soccer scholarship.