Elon’s associate vice president for Student Life and dean of students was named a Diamond Honoree by the ACPA Foundation.
Jana Lynn Patterson, associate vice president for student life and dean of students, has been named a member of the ACPA Foundation Diamond Honoree Class of 2024. Recognized for her leadership and contributions to the student affairs profession, Patterson will be among the 18 individuals who will be recognized during the ACPA convention in March.
“As I enter the later stages of my professional career, I am so incredibly proud to have the opportunity as a Diamond Honoree to continue the instrumental and cutting edge work that ACPA will edge in the future to support my colleagues, our institutions and our students,” Patterson said.
While at Elon, Patterson has supervised nearly every department within the Division of Student Life and served as chief student affairs officer on an interim basis in 1993. She was named associate vice president in 2013 and when dean of students was added to her title in 2018. She became the first female leader at Elon to hold the title “dean of students” in the 50 years since the former “dean of women” and “dean of men” positions were merged. Currently, she supervises departments that contribute to student health, welfare and well-being.
The American College Personnel Association (ACPA) strives to advance student affairs, engage students and provide professional development for individuals within student affairs. The ACPA Leadership Foundation is a subset of ACPA. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the ACPA Foundation strives to enhance the student affairs profession and support the priorities and activities of ACPA by raising funds and developing resources.
“My involvement in ACPA has provided an opportunity to develop a strong network of professional colleagues while participating in opportunities that continue to shape our profession. My membership in ACPA has been instrumental in developing who I am as a person, professional, colleague, advocate and mentor to students and staff,” Patterson said.
All funds raised in honor of the Diamond Honorees will be utilized to sustain the ACPA Foundation and support research, programming and scholarship. Honorees are invited to celebrate their accomplishments during the 2024 ACPA convention in March 2024 in Chicago.