Our Executive Dean

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Wendy Patton Ph.D.

Professor Wendy Patton is an accomplished and experienced researcher, educator and academic at QUT’s Faculty of Education. Professor Patton’s success as a leader is evident from her achievements in her role as Head of the School of Learning and Professional Studies.

Professor Patton’s expertise and extensive experience in career development, led to the initiation and development of the career guidance area of study within the postgraduate programs in the Faculty of Education. Her commitment to and passion for this program continues as she currently coordinates all of the career guidance units. 

Her research output is impressive with Professor Patton currently co-investigator in an ARC linkage grant exploring the relationship between part-time work experience and career development in adolescents, and is Series Editor of a career development series with Sense Publishers, with books planned through to 2010.

Professor Patton’s high profile in the area of career development has meant she has engaged in extensive professional and consultancy work, recently leading the QUT contingent of a national consortium which developed professional development packages at a number of levels of the Australian Qualifications Framework to increase the skill level and professional standards of career industry professionals in Australia.

In 2004 Professor Patton was named as one of the exceptional contributors to career development internationally. Professor Patton edited the Australian Journal of Career Development for three years, and is regularly an invited guest editor, including the 10th anniversary special edition in 2002. She is currently on the editorial advisory boards of a number of international career development journals.

Professor Patton has co-edited seven books and published more than 100 refereed articles and over 30 book chapters, most in the area of career development. She has co-authored 3 books, one of which was recently published as a second edition.

Professor Patton has coordinated and taught many units at QUT, ranging from introductory social psychology and interpersonal psychology to human sexuality and interpersonal relationships in the former Graduate Diploma in Human Relationships Education. Her many roles have included coordinator of the Master of Education (Research), chair of Faculty of Education Research Committee, and faculty representative on the research ethics committee for a number of years, including 4 years as chair.

Professor Patton has supervised 14 doctoral students and 3 research masters students to completion, and is currently supervising a number of full-time and part-time doctoral students.

Professor Patton has presented at numerous national and international career development and counselling conferences, many as an invited keynote speaker.

Professor Patton commenced her academic career at one of QUT’s predecessor institutions, Brisbane College of Advanced Education (BCAE), in January 1989. This was following a flourishing and established career which included secondary teaching, developing career education curriculum materials, and school counselling.