Tony Patterson

Tony Patterson, PhD, is a Teaching Assistant Professor in Sport Administration and joined the Department of Exercise and Sport Science in 2022. Prior to joining EXSS faculty, Dr. Patterson was Associate Professor in Kinesiology and Recreation Administration at North Carolina Central University. His research interests include the role that sport and recreation play in academic performance, noncognitive skills, and social capital across the lifespan with an emphasis on Black males. Dr. Patterson also explores cultural preferences in sport and recreation involvement with members of minoritized communities.

A native North Carolinian, Dr. Patterson earned a B.S. in Business Administration (1996) and an M.S. in Recreation Administration (2001) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at UNC as an undergraduate he found a part-time position in Campus Recreation which led him to a career in Higher Education. He has held roles in housing and residential life, scholarships and student aid, and campus activities. Seeing firsthand the significant role sport and recreation can have in one’s life led him to pursue a doctorate in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at NC State University (2015).

Dr. Patterson has numerous research articles, conference presentations, and continues to build his research agenda. He is also a father and husband with two children. He serves on the board of nonprofits in the Durham and Chapel Hill area and is a youth coach with multiple teams in soccer, basketball, and flag football.