Patterson began her tenure as director of the State Library of Oregon on May 13, 2019. Patterson joins the State Library with more than 20 years of library experience. She most recently served as associate dean of learning resources at Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood, Washington. Patterson’s prior experience includes leadership roles such as head of access services for the University of Washington Bothell, customer experience manager at the Pierce County Library System in Tacoma, Washington, and public services director at The Seattle Public Library. Patterson has a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of California Los Angeles and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver. As a skilled library leader with expertise in budget and policy development and management, strategic planning, and human resources, Patterson hopes to build upon efforts to raise the profile of the State Library of Oregon and create strategic goals and priorities that align with stakeholder interests and needs.