History
The vision to create a school of diplomacy and international commerce came from Dr. James Kennedy Patterson, the first president of the University of Kentucky. The 1898 Spanish-American War convinced Patterson a new school was needed that "shall have for its special object the preparation of young men for the diplomatic and consular service of the United States. It shall also provide special training for those who may seek employment in extending upon rational and scientific lines the commercial relations of America." Patterson took as his model the programs he saw then being established at Harvard, Stanford, Chicago, Cornell and Yale.
Patterson understood the United States was becoming a political and commercial world power and believed new institutions were needed to properly prepare Americans for this role. He also had a clear vision about how they should be educated. In 1903, speaking in Washington, DC on "Education and Empire," Patterson declared students must be educated not only as scholars and scientists, but as citizens who will be engaged in shaping the destinies of the world. This philosophy - requiring that students be exposed to both theory and practice - has always been at the core of the Patterson School.
A trust established by Patterson's will in 1922 called for the creation of a college of diplomacy. To make his vision a reality, however, the funds had to be invested for decades. While the endowment was never large enough to fully fund Patterson's ambitious vision, by 1959 it had increased enough - with additional funding from the Commonwealth of Kentucky - to launch the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce.
The Patterson School grew and thrived under a series of strong long-term directors - Amry Vandenbosch, Vince Davis, John Stempel - building a reputation as one of the leading institutions in its field. While the program has purposely remained small and focused, it has produced nearly a thousand alumni. Patterson School graduates have reached the top of their professions, serving as ambassadors, key government officials and CEOs. Today's students will follow quickly in their footsteps.
For nearly fifty years, the Patterson School has remained faithful to the vision of providing students from across Kentucky, the nation and the world with the theoretical and practical education needed to engage effectively in diplomacy, international affairs and commerce.