Rate My Professor Pat Freeland

Patricia K. Freeland, known as Pat Freeland, is Professor and Associate Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1978. In her role, Professor Freeland serves as Director of Undergraduate Studies and coordinates the department's internship programs, including the Tennessee Legislative Internship Program. She has held significant administrative positions, such as Associate Department Head since 2015 and former Chair of the Women's Studies Interdisciplinary Program. Additionally, she is affiliated faculty in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Program and holds a Faculty Fellow position at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy. Professor Freeland contributes to departmental initiatives by overseeing scholarships like the Kathryn Barnett Green Book Award, James O. and Minnie Elliott Scholarship, and Edgar G. Guenther Scholarship. She has participated in the Graduate Council and supported numerous doctoral dissertations as a committee member or major professor in areas related to political science and public administration.

Professor Freeland's research interests include state legislatures, interest groups, state politics, women and politics, and public administration. Her scholarly publications address topics such as interest groups in Tennessee. She has presented on subjects like 'Women and Politics' to the Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning in 2019 and spoken publicly on issues such as merging government and religion. Through her teaching, administrative leadership, and service, Professor Freeland plays a key role in the Political Science Department, fostering undergraduate and graduate education, internships, and interdisciplinary collaboration at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.