David Patterson named Schools of Business Assistant Dean of Administration

A long-time executive who has led several health-care and nonprofit organizations is the new Assistant Dean of Administration for the Schools of Business at Wake Forest University.

David Patterson will oversee administrative management functions for the Schools of Business, including finance and budget, technology, human resources, facilities, marketing and communications. Patterson will contribute to and help implement integration initiatives and organizational realignment of the Schools of Business as well as the annual planning cycle.

Wake Forest Dean of Business Steve Reinemund said the school interviewed extensively for the position, as it was important to find a candidate who had the right fit with the university and its values.

“David has a reputation for being a compassionate, dedicated leader who recognizes the importance of working with people the right way and getting things done with integrity,” Reinemund said. “He is going to be a great addition to the Schools of Business and we are delighted to have him on our leadership team.”

As the former president and CEO of QualChoice of North Carolina Inc., Patterson led an organization of 240 employees with $185 million in revenue. In another role, as vice president Health Care Research and Quality for N.C. Baptist Hospital, Patterson worked to increase executive level focus on providing safe, effective, and patient-centered care. Patterson also was vice president and COO for PHP Companies Inc. in Knoxville, Tenn., where he was responsible for administration, customer satisfaction and quality improvement for the $310 million revenue organization.

Patterson has also served as interim executive director for several local nonprofits, including Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County, Twin City Stage (formerly The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem) and Prodigals Community in Winston-Salem. He continues to serve on the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity and Twin City Stage.

“This is a rare opportunity to play a significant role in shaping the future administration of Wake Forest University’s nationally recognized business schools. I am delighted to join the outstanding management team that Dean Reinemund has assembled to further advance the stature of the schools,” said Patterson.

Patterson holds an MBA from the University of Georgia, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, and a Master of Arts in History from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he is pursuing his Ph.D. He and his wife, Sonya, have been married for 30 years and have two children. Margaret is a high school senior; Olivia is in the eighth grade.