Terence Patterson

President & Chief Executive Officer

Terence Patterson is a native Memphian who currently serves as CEO of Memphis Education Fund and is the past President and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission, the organization charged with advancing Memphis and Shelby County by making Downtown Memphis a better place to work, live, play, and invest.

He served as Senior Financial Analyst for The Walt Disney Company, as an Attorney for the prestigious firm Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago, and as Deputy Chief of Staff and Interim Executive Officer of New Schools for the Chicago Public School system. In 2011, the Hyde Family Foundation recruited Patterson back to Memphis as Education Program Director. Through this position, he co-created and managed the startup of multi-million dollar initiatives and investments for local education transformation.

Patterson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Harvard University, where he was a two-time All-Ivy League football player and graduated as the school’s All-Time Reception Leader. He also holds an MBA and law degree from Northwestern University in Chicago. Patterson is the Board Chairman for KIPP Memphis and Vice Chairman for The First Tee of Memphis. He is a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.