Katy (Katherine) Pattinson is reportedly set to join the University of California, Davis as its new Associate Dean of Students.
According to The Sacramento Bee, the 37-year-old Princeton-educated former fashion student will begin work at UC Davis in September 2019.
Pattinson is reportedly the highest-ranking member of the Davis community to join the school since it became a university in the mid-1960s. She will be responsible for establishing the student code of conduct and enforcing it, as well as developing and implementing programs and resources for students (e.g. academic advising, tutorial support, and social events).
Pattinson served as an associate dean at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was in charge of student life, before accepting the position at Davis.
UC Davis spokesperson Katie Kaeding confirmed to The Sacramento Bee that Pattinson was “selected for this role based on her excellence and experience.” The official description of the position, meanwhile, highlights her experience in “overseeing all facets of student life,” and states that she will be “responsible for developing new strategies and tactics to improve student wellbeing, retention, and graduation.”
Pattinson’s Fashion Career
Pattinson began her career in fashion in New York City, where she spent three years at Bergdorf Goodman working in the accessories department, and rose to the position of fashion supervisor. She then moved to London, where she worked for four years in the costumes department of high-end stores, before returning to New York City in 2014.
The fashion industry has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as stores and brands had to close down, leaving many jobless and others looking for temporary replacements. In fact, as of April 2020, the unemployment rate in the U.S. was 4.7%, and among retail workers it was 13.1%.
Pattinson, who has been active in the fashion industry for more than 20 years, has a combined total of 14 years of academic experience and three years of industry experience.
According to CNET, Pattinson was most recently Senior Vice President of Design and Merchandising at Elle MacLeman Limited, where she was in charge of design, production, and marketing for the e-commerce website and company store, as well as for Elle MacLeman’s eponymous fashion brands. She previously worked for nine years at Donna Karan, where she was responsible for the company’s design team, as well as for a line of leather and fur accessories.
Why UC Davis?
When asked by The Sacramento Bee about how she came to be choosing UC Davis as her next home, Pattinson said that she had been “looking for a change,” and that “there are incredible students and a really supportive community.”
The publication adds that, although she will be joining a reputable university, she said that she was “looking for a job that will allow me to make an even greater impact on students’ lives.”
According to her LinkedIn profile, besides her experience in education, Pattinson has also worked as a strategist and consultant in the areas of marketing, retail, and brand strategy. She is a board-certified marketing specialist, and has a master’s degree in business administration with a specialty in marketing and management. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and administration.
Impact On Students
In her role as Associate Dean of Students, Pattinson will be responsible for developing and implementing new strategies and tactics for students at UC Davis. This could mean anything from developing a stress-reducing meditation program for students, to encouraging them to take advantage of all the resources available to them. As with most positions of this nature, she will be working closely with faculty and staff on this front.
Pattinson is said to be impressed with the amount of thought that goes into the university’s academic program, and wants to help develop strategies to make the most out of it.
Overall Impression
Overall, the news that Pattinson is to join UC Davis as its new Associate Dean of Students is a positive sign for the school and its prospective students. The position requires her to be at the forefront of innovative strategies to help students navigate their degree programs successfully, and the appointment represents an excellent opportunity for her, and the university as a whole.