Bishopric Patterson, associate director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center (GLC), was an honoree at the 2024 Leaders in Diversity Awards, hosted by the Triad Business Journal.
Becca Bishopric Patterson, associate director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center (GLC), has been named an honoree for the 2024 Leaders in Diversity Awards by the Triad Business Journal for her efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion in the Triad community.
Bishopric Patterson was one of nine individuals and six organizations recognized during an awards ceremony on Thursday, June 27, at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Student Center. Honorees also received a feature in the business publication, hoping to provide practical insight for operational success to move diversity, equity and inclusion forward with an organization. In attendance at the ceremony were Elon President Connie Ledoux Book, Jon Dooley, vice president for Student Life and several professional staff members from the Division of Student Life. Read Bishopric Patterson’s profile online.
“This award represents the collective work that I am so proud to be a part of at Elon University and in the Alamance County community towards building a more just, connected and healthy environment for everyone. I am so appreciative to leaders and mentors at Elon and beyond for supporting my development as a DEI trainer and advocate over the last decade,” Bishopric Patterson said. “My work allows me to humbly learn, problem solve, and build relationships every day towards creating positive change with and for our students and the broader community. I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”
Bishopric Patterson joined Elon in 2012 as the coordinator of violence prevention and response and led the health promotion efforts at Elon until 2017, when she joined the GLC. She was promoted to associate director of the GLC in 2021. Since joining Elon, she has worked diligently to develop and manage the gender violence prevention and response strategy with many campus partners, including the presidentially appointed Sexual Assault & Gender Issues Council (SAGIC), Women’s Gender & Sexualities Studies program (WGSS), and the Title IX Office.
Throughout her time at Elon, Bishopric Patterson has often partnered with the Division of Inclusive Excellence by serving in various roles within the Bias Response System and working with campus partners on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. She works with over 40 campus and community partners annually to design, plan and implement over 100 DEI-related workshops and events and facilitates student leader and peer education programs. Additionally, she focuses on supporting LGBTQIA students through individual support and resource development. She also supports two full-time professionals, including Confidential Support & Advocacy Services, which provides 24/7 confidential response for survivors of gender-based violence. She diligently supports student and professional staff within the GLC who organize DEI workshops covering topics such as LGBTQIA allyship, healthy relationships, bystander intervention and LGBTQIA inclusion for healthcare professionals.
In 2021, Bishopric Patterson spearheaded efforts that led to her and the GLC being awarded a $300,000 grant from the Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women. This grant expands the efforts to reduce sexual assault, relationship abuse and stalking, supporting the university in launching the project “Elon: Connect. Prevent. Transform,” aimed at enhancing gender-based violence prevention and response efforts at Elon through enhancing training, prevention and strong partnerships for victim services with many campus resources and community service providers throughout Alamance and Guilford Counties. The initiative specifically focuses on improving services and prevention activities for LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual) and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities.
Bishopric Patterson’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion extends beyond the university into the greater Alamance and North Carolina communities. She has served as a board member of Transcend Alamance, an Alamance County non-profit that coordinates programs for LGBTQ youth, transgender adults and the broader queer community. Within the GLC, she enhances partnerships for LGBTQ inclusion and victim services, including with Transcend, Alamance Pride, PFLAG Alamance, CrossRoads Sexual Assault Response & Resource Center and Family Abuse Services of Alamance County. In May 2024, she partnered with Transcend to bring Hope for Teens on campus to discuss the implications of North Carolina House Bill 49 on LGBTQ youth and communities. From 2020-2021, she participated in the grant-funded initiative Alamance Youth Connected to expand LGBTQ-inclusive sexual and relationship health resources in the county with a community team of over 20 partner organizations. Furthermore, Bishopric Patterson participates in the leadership team for Alamance Racial Equity Alliance, where she helps lead community efforts and strategic planning for racial justice.