News and Events

Meet the new Director of the Patterson School

Nov 1, 2024

The Patterson School would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Director Dr. Joe Young! Dr. Young is coming to us from American University where he has held a number of leadership positions over the past 14 years in several different schools.

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. John Charalambakis

Nov 27, 2023

Dr. John Charalambakis is the Managing Director for the BlackSummit Financial Group Inc. He advises organizations, corporations, families, non-profits and government entities operating in several countries. His knowledge has resulted in him assisting the Congressional Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission with research on the causes of the financial crisis.

Faculty Spotlight: Retired Lt. Col. Amy McGrath

Nov 27, 2022

Retired Lt. Col. Amy McGrath is currently an Adjunct Professor for the Patterson School. She is a retired Marine fighter pilot and former political candidate for the state of Kentucky. McGrath was the first woman to fly a combat mission for the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as the first to pilot the F/A-18 on a combat mission.

Emeritus Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Karen Mingst

Apr 27, 2022

After 14 years teaching and mentoring dozens of Patterson School students and leading the school, Dr. Karen Mingst retired in December 2016 as Acting Director, Lockwood Chair, and Professor of Political Science at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Mingst’s career included lecturing and teaching short courses in South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Albania, Vietnam, Japan, and the United Nations.

Emeritus Faculty Spotlight: John D. Stempel

Oct 27, 2021

Dr. Stempel was a career Foreign Service Officer. His 23 year career included oversees postings focused on political and economic affairs in Guinea, Burundi, Zambia, and Iran.

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Robert Farley

Jul 27, 2021

Dr. Robert Farley is a Senior Lecturer at the Patterson School. Dr. Farley grew up in Northern California and Oregon prior to attending the University of Oregon for his undergraduate degree. He received his doctorate degree in Political Science from the University of Washington before moving to Lexington to complete his post-doc in 2005. He has worked for Patterson since holding various responsibilities. He currently assists with the school website, manages the Patterson podcast, and leads recruitment efforts.

Faculty Spotlight: Ambassador Carey Cavanaugh

Apr 27, 2021

Ambassador Carey Cavanaugh has been with the Patterson School since 2006. He served as the Director of the program for ten years before going on sabbatical to Geneva and Cambridge. Upon his return, he focused on teaching and expanded his work with peacebuilding NGOs. He is currently Chair of International Alert, based in London, which carries out programs across the globe advancing peace and conflict resolution. His return to academia after his twenty-plus year Foreign Service career was quite fitting, as he had worked as a professor prior to entering government service.

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Gregory Hall

Jan 27, 2021

Dr. Gregory Hall has been teaching at the Patterson School for just over four years and was recently awarded the Earl F. and Jean M. Lockwood Professorship of International Commerce and Entrepreneurship. Prior to coming to the University of Kentucky, Dr. Hall served as Head of the Department of Political Science and Director of the International Studies Program at Morehouse College in Atlanta. He has also completed appointments abroad including stops in Hong Kong and Turkey.

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Yujia He

Nov 27, 2020

Meet our newest faculty member, Dr. Yujia He. She is a strong addition to the faculty adding expertise not only in science and technology policy but in China and Asia issues more broadly and across our International Commerce track.