Dr. Edith J. Patterson

Edith Jerry Patterson of Pomfret, Maryland, is a native of Doswell, Virginia. She has a B.S. Degree in Biology and Chemistry from Virginia Union University, a M.E. Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Bowie State University, and a Ed. D. Degree in Higher Education Administration from George Washington University, along with several National Science Foundation Awards for advanced studies in biochemistry.

Dr. Patterson is a former teacher with the District of Columbia and Charles County Public Schools, and counselor at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM). She is currently the Director of CSM’s Educational Talent Search Program. She also is a consultant for the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Dr. Patterson is President of the Charles County Public Schools Education Foundation, and Vice-President of Education Technology Think Tank. She has served as National Chair and organizer of “National Education Funding Day,” and is a Charter Member of the National Commission on African American Education. She is the President and Founder of GLOBETOWNE Associates, a consulting service, and Founding Member of the newly formed Southern Hospitality Eldercare, Incorporated (S.H.E.), a group committed to providing elder health services, housing, estate planning and self-sufficiency skills for senior citizens.

She is a member of numerous professional and civic organizations, and serves on Congressman Steny Hoyer’s (D-MD) Military Review Board and Congressman Major Owens’ (D-NY) National Commission for African Americans. She is President of the Southern Maryland Chain Chapter of The Links, Inc. and member of Nu Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Dr. Patterson is also listed in “Who’s Who Among College and University Teachers” and recipient of a number of awards from professional and civic organizations.

She was first elected in 1983 to the Charles County Board of Education. Her 12 years of service included three years as Vice-Chair. She was the Chair during her final year. She has also been a member of the Charles County Democratic Central Committee since 2000, and most recently was the Committee Chairman.

She is the daughter of Joseph and Deanna Kelly Jerry. Dr. Patterson was married to the late Ralph E. Patterson. She has two sons, Ralph and Robert, and a stepdaughter, Dr. Anne P. Tuggle