Hometown: Kewaunee, Wisconsin
Faculty mentor: Jonathan Templin, professor and E.F. Lindquist Chair, Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, College of Education

Chris Patterson’s primary research explores the integration of students’ cultural backgrounds into test development, creating new types of test questions that account for multiple ways of cognitive processing. Through this work, he finds alternative ways to perform quantitative analysis to highlight where educational institutions can better address the needs of marginalized students. This research has led to multiple testing companies changing how they evaluate students’ knowledge in different areas such as mathematics and reading. Patterson also serves as a methodologist for the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health, supporting evaluation work for school-based mental health interventions.

After his postdoc experience ends, Patterson hopes to secure a position in academia or the non-profit sector where he can train and inspire others to become stronger, more critical researchers while collaborating with the community to help facilitate better educational practices.

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