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Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce

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Thomas M. T. Niles

Meet Thomas Niles, 1962 Alum

Mar 15, 2023
Alumni, Profile

Thomas M.T. Niles is Vice President of the National Defense University. A career Foreign Service Officer, Ambassador Niles joined the Foreign Service in February 1962. He served successively in Belgrade (1963-65), in the Office of Soviet Union Affairs of the Department of State (1965-67), Moscow (1968-71), United States mission to NATO (1971-1973), and again in Moscow as Director of the Commercial Office from 1973 to 1976.

Katie Smith, Alumna 2021

Meet Katie Smith, 2021 Alum

Mar 15, 2023
Alumni, Profile

Katie Smith is a 2021 Patterson School graduate that is currently working at the Department of Commerce in the International Trade Administration as an International Trade Compliance Analyst. Her department is responsible for protecting domestic industries from foreign products that can outcompete with American goods.

Blake Laytham, Alum 2017

Meet Blake Laytham, 2017 Alum

Mar 15, 2023
Alumni, Profile

Blake Laytham attended the University of Kentucky for his undergraduate studies and then went on to graduate from the Patterson School in 2017. During his time at Patterson, Blake majored in diplomacy and minored in international security. He started his current role at Walmart Headquarters as a Senior Manager on the Risk Intelligence team in April 2024.

Catherine Putz

Meet Catherine Putz, 2011 Alum

Mar 15, 2023
Alumni, Profile

In the decade since I graduated, I moved to DC and worked at a think tank, an international financial institution, and finally landed at The Diplomat, where I am now managing editor. My time at the Patterson School played a crucial role in refining and ultimately achieving this dream position.

Cassidy Pearson

Meet Cassidy Pearson, 2015 Alum

Mar 15, 2023
Alumni, Profile

Cassidy Pearson graduated from the Patterson School in 2015. While at Patterson, she received a NSEP Boren Fellowship in the Russian Far East. After graduation, she joined the Customs and Border Protection Office of Accountability. While there, she inspected CPB facilities to see if they were compliant with internal policy.

Sarah Graves

Meet Sarah Graves, 2013 Alum

Mar 15, 2023
Alumni, Profile

Sarah Trainor Graves ‘13, is currently the Chief Development Officer at the Louisville Urban League (LUL), where she is the youngest member of the organization’s leadership team. The mission of LUL is to assist African Americans and other marginalized populations in attaining social and economic equality through direct services and advocacy by focusing on jobs, justice, education, health, and housing.

William Frost

Meet William Frost, 2009 Alum

Mar 15, 2023
Alumni, Profile

David Frost (2009) has been in the Foreign Service since 2011 and is on his 5th tour.  A native of Louisville, KY. David is the Deputy Political Counselor in Abuja, Nigeria, and previously served in Eritrea, China, Togo, and in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor in Washington, D.C.

Kevely Dumay, Alum 2020

Meet Kevely Dumay, 2020 Alum

Mar 15, 2023
Alumni, Profile

Kevely Dumay graduated from the Patterson School in 2020 with a major in diplomacy and a minor in commerce. After graduation he thought he would start his career in in the field of international development until an unexpected opportunity crossed his path. Kevely ended up accepting a position at Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers that work to create opportunities for Americans by advocating for beneficial economic policies.

Dana Lea Headshot

Meet Dana Lea, 2016 Alum

Mar 15, 2023
Alumni, Profile

Dana Lea was a Senior Manager of Civil Society Engagement at Endeavors, a Texas-based nonprofit. Dana managed engagement for the Endeavors’ Migrant Services team providing sheltering of migrant families and children at the Southwest border. She previously has over seven years of experience in the local refugee resettlement field coordinating community engagement, advocacy, fundraising and development, strategic marketing and communications, and cultural integration of families and individuals. Now, she is the National Strategic Outreach Lead for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF).

Matthew Ryan, Alum 2019

Meet Matthew Ryan, 2019 Alum

Mar 15, 2023
Alumni, Profile

Matthew Ryan graduated with Patterson’s 60th cohort in 2019. A former Army officer, he attended the University of Oklahoma for his undergraduate degree and worked as a healthcare administrator at the Johns Hopkins Hospital before joining Patterson. Currently, Ryan is a Sudan Desk Officer at the State Department.

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Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce
Miller Hall
504 Administration Dr.   
Lexington, KY 40506

PattersonAdmissions@uky.edu   |   859-257-4666

 

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