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Devon Patterson is a recent graduate at the University at Buffalo with a B.A. in African American studies. He served as the vice president and president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and captain of the UB track and field team for two years. Patterson was also a member of the Council of Student Athletes for the Mid-American Conference, was chosen to be a part of a nationwide leadership development training through the NCAA, served as the only student athlete on a “difficult conversations” panel discussing the controversy of taking a knee in college athletics, and was the sole student athlete award recipient for diversity and inclusion in 2018.

During his athletic career, Patterson has achieved three conference titles in shot put, four appearances in the first round of the NCAA championships, a place on the Puerto Rican national team, and one national record.

After graduating, Patterson transitioned to community project coordinator at Algonquin Sports for Kids as an Americorps VISTA, where he rewrote their handbook, maintained and expanded their community outreach and engagement in Buffalo and Lackawanna, and surveyed middle and high schools in Lackawanna through trauma-informed care postcards to analyze data for methods to improve their service to youth.

Patterson is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Transnational Studies with hopes to advance his knowledge of the intersectionality of hardships that different cultures face.

Photos by Blanc Photographie.