Before joining the Law Center faculty in 1980, Professor Patterson served as Chair of the D.C. Public Service (Utilities) Commission and was a Commissioner of the D.C. Public Service Commission. At Georgetown, she teaches Conflict of Laws, Contracts, Race and American Law, and Commercial Law: Sales Transactions. From 2005 until 2007, she served as the Deputy Director of the Association of American Law Schools, headquartered in Washington, D.C. From 1993-97, she served as Associate Dean for the JD and Graduate Programs at the Law Center, with responsibility for the supervision of academic programs, including curriculum development, full-time and adjunct faculty, and the Registrar's Office, as well as student affairs. In 2001, she received the Law Center's Frank F. Flegal Teaching Award.