New Director Wants to Expand the Women’s Studies Program at the University of Virginia

Charlotte J. Patterson, professor of psychology and director of the University of Virginia’s Studies in Women and Gender (SWAG) program, is planning to expand the academic offerings for women’s studies students. She hopes to expand academic course offerings in the area of sexuality studies. Professor Patterson says, “This is an area that is just exploding across disciplines. It’s natural for our program to take it up.”

Professor Patterson also wants to re-engage with faculty who are affiliated with the SWAG program and to hire new faculty.

Dr. Patterson joined the faculty at the University of Virginia in 1975 and has been involved in the SWAG program since its inception in 1981. She is a graduate of Pomona College in Claremont, California, and holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford University.