Raymond Patterson Religious Studies Department Chair, Associate Professor of Religious Studies
Bio
Ph.D. The Catholic University of America
M.A. Yale Divinity School
B.A. Dartmouth College;
Courses I Teach:
American Catholicism
American Protestantism
Celtic Christianity
Saints and Holiness
Sacraments, Worship, and Ritual
Religion and Film
Varieties of Christianity
My Saint Michael’s:
Saint Michael’s graduates look at their time in Vermont as a special time in their lives — many spend the rest of their lives trying to find ways to get back here! I like the size of the community, which has allowed me to develop strong working relationships with students, staff and other faculty.
Research
My research interests include intellectual movements in American Catholicism, American popular piety, Christian worship, and saints and models of sanctity. My current research focuses on American Catholic History. Other areas of interest include American Christianity, Christian Sacraments and Worship and Celtic Christianity.
Recent News
Ray Patterson, Saint Michael’s NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR), attended the 5th Division II FAR Advanced Leadership Institute from Sept. 30- Oct. 2 at NCAA Headquarters in Indianapolis.
(posted February 2023)
Ray Patterson of the College’s religious studies faculty was selected as a 2019 FAR Fellow and attended the FAR Fellows Institute held at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis in September (as well as attending the NCAA Conference in Anaheim the same weekend a related nearby workshop attended by Kara Lowe of Saint Michael’s Athletics). Ray is the FAR or “Faculty Athletic Representative” for Saint Michael’s College. All NCAA schools are required to have a FAR, appointed by the college president. The primary focus of the FAR is to ensure academic integrity for student-athletes and institutional control over the athletics program, as well as promoting student-athlete well-being. The FAR also serves as an important liaison between the athletic program and other campus constituencies including faculty, staff, administrators, and student-athletes. Ray was nominated by the Northeast-10 Conference and his application was chosen, together with 17 other Division II FARs from leagues across the nation, to attend the FAR Institute, which focused on the development of leadership and mentoring skills.
(posted June 2020)
Raymond Patterson, associate professor and chair of religious studies, led Edmundite Campus Ministry’s annual pilgrimage to sacred sites in Montreal, October 5-7.
(posted January 2019)
Ray Patterson, associate professor and chair of religious studies, recently succeeded Dave Landers as the Saint Michael’s College Faculty Athletics Representative. College President John J. Neuhauser appointed Patterson to the position. Patterson just completed his 23rd school year as a professor at Saint Michael’s, and has been the long-time faculty affiliate for the women’s basketball, field hockey and women’s lacrosse programs, providing academic support and guidance to those teams’ student-athletes. Also in 2017, Ray received the inaugural Northeast-10 Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Faculty Mentor Award, the Dr. Dave Landers Faculty Member of the Year Award from the Saint Michael’s SAAC, and the College’s Reverend Gerald E. Dupont Award.
(posted June 2018)
Raymond Patterson, professor of religious studies and department chair, in early June received the inaugural Northeast-10 Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Faculty Mentor Award during the NE10’s year-end banquet at Gillette Stadium’s Putnam Club. Ray is a long-time supporter of Saint Michael’s athletics, and serves as the faculty affiliate for the women’s basketball, field hockey and women’s lacrosse programs, providing academic support and guidance to those teams’ student-athletes. His selection was based on supporting nomination input from the College’s student-athletes themselves. Read the full story >>