Dr. Patty Witkowsky is an Associate Professor in the Department of Leadership, Research, and Foundations in the College of Education at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She received her Ph.D. in Higher Education and Student Affairs Leadership with a minor in Applied Statistics and Research Methods from the University of Northern Colorado, her M.A. in College Student Personnel from the University of Maryland, and her B.A. in Sociology from Occidental College. Dr. Witkowsky teaches leadership, college student development theory, qualitative research methods, internationalization, and supervised practicum courses in the M.A. in Leadership with a concentration in Student Affairs in Higher Education program and in the Educational Leadership, Research, and Policy Ph.D. program. Dr. Witkowsky's research focuses on the experiences of graduate students in student affairs graduate preparation programs, student transitions, and the experiences of student affairs professionals. Dr. Witkowsky held administrative positions in higher education for 12 years prior to joining the faculty in areas such as new student orientation, student activities, student organizations, leadership programs, residence life and housing, career services, academic advising, and graduate student support. Dr. Witkowsky combines her academic and administrative experience in various service roles including as an Associate Editor of the Journal of College Orientation, Transition, and Retention through the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention. At UCCS, Dr. Witkowsky serves on the Student Success Assessment Team.

Ph.D., Higher Education and Student Affairs Leadership
University of Northern Colorado-2010

M.A., College Student Personnel
University of Maryland-2004

B.A., Sociology
Occidental College-2000

LEAD 3000 How College Students Develop

LEAD 5030 Vision, Values, and Leadership

LEAD 5260 College Student Development Theories

LEAD 5700 Introduction to Research and Statistics

LEAD 6000 International Study of Higher Education

LEAD 6830 Practicum in Student Affairs in Higher Education

Recent Refereed Publications

Witkowsky, P., Ferguson, N., Knotts, L., & Shaker, M. (2021). Lost in translation: Perspective and skills developed by student affairs professionals abroad. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1080/19496591.2021.1939039

Witkowsky, P. & Ferguson, N. (2021). Experiences of post-traditional students in age-diverse student affairs preparation programs. Journal of Adult and Continuing Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/14779714211006716

Alanis, J., Witkowsky, P., & Tapia-Fuselier, N. (2021). Undocumented students’ perceptions of institutional support. Journal of College Access, 6(2), 146-159. 

Witkowsky, P., Starkey, K., Clayton, G., Garnar, M., & Andersen, A. (2020). Promises and realities: Academic advisors’ perspectives of dual enrollment credit. NACADA Journal, 40(2), 63-73. https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-19-24

Witkowsky, P. (2020). “Expect the unexpected:” Experiences of U.S.-trained student affairs professionals working abroad. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 57(2), 212-227.

Witkowsky, P., Garnar, M., Starkey, K., Clayton, G., & Andersen, A. (2020). Approaches to advising incoming college students with dual enrollment credit. Accepted to the Journal of College Orientation and Transition.

Witkowsky, P., & Clayton, G. (2019). What makes dual enrollment work? High school counselor perspectives. Community College Journal of Research and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1080/10668926.2019.1610676

Witkowsky, P., Obregon, V., Bruner, B., & Alanis, J. (2018). Connecting familismo and higher education: Influence of Spanish language parent and family member orientation programs on Latinx family involvement and sense of belonging. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/1538192718810429

Witkowsky, P., & Mendez, S. (2018). Influence of a short-term study abroad experience on professional competencies and career aspirations of graduate students in student affairs. Journal of College Student Development, 59(6), 769-775. doi: 10.1353/csd.2018.0073

Mendez, S., Witkowsky, P., Morris, P., Brosseau, J., & Nicholson, H. (2018). Experiences in a student veteran transition seminar: Exploring the Thriving Transition Cycle. Journal of Veteran Studies, 3(2), 1-18.

Witkowsky, P., Dinise-Halter, A., Yakaboski, T., & Long, S. (2018). Creating supportive educational communities for non-traditional women in student affairs preparation programs. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice.

Mendez, S., Witkowsky, P., Allee, A., Christensen, B., & Stiles, C. (2017). Sorority ritual participation and self-efficacy. Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, 12(1), 1-19.

Witkowsky, P., Kumm, C., Mendez, S., Nicholson, H., Dimandja, O., & Morris, P. (2016). Comparing military-connected and non-military connected students' orientation experience. Journal of College Orientation and Transition, 24(1), 78-83.

Witkowsky, P., Mendez, S., Ogunbowo, O., Hernandez, N., & Clayton, G. (2016). Non-traditional student needs: Collegiate inclusion perceptions. Journal of Continuing Higher Education, 64, 1-12.

Witkowsky, P. A. (2012). The importance of transition programs for doctoral student wellness, The Journal of College Orientation and Transition, 19(2), 94-108.

Recent Book and Monograph Chapters

Witkowsky, P., & Gibbes, C. (2021). Preparing faculty for internationalization: Opportunities through teaching, research, and service. In N. Smith-Isabell, P. Witkowsky, & M. Cuyjet (Eds.), Faculty perspectives on internationalization strategies in higher education. New Directions for Higher Education, 2020(192), 73-84. https://doi.org/10.1002/he.20393

Bingham, A., & Witkowsky, P. (2021). Deductive and inductive approaches. In C. Vanover, P. Mihas, & J. Saldaña (Eds.), Analyzing and interpreting qualitative data: After the interview (pp.133-148). Sage.

Recent Refereed Presentations

Witkowsky, P., Tapia-Fuselier, N., & Scobba, H. (2022). Influence of undergraduate student affairs coursework on undergraduate engagement. Presentation at the 2022 NASPA: Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education Convention, Baltimore, Maryland.

Tapia-Fuselier, N., Witkowsky, P., & Scobba, H. (2022). Influence of undergraduate student affairs coursework on graduate school transition and professional socialization. Paper presented at the 2022 NASPA: Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education Convention, Baltimore, Maryland.

Witkowsky, P. (2021). Designing assignments to achieve multiple learning outcomes. Presentation at the U.S. Air Force Academy Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Witkowsky, P., & Ferguson, N. (2021). Navigating generational difference in student affairs preparation programs. Program presented at the 2021 NASPA-IV West Virtual Conference.

Witkowsky, P., & Ferguson, N. (2021). Perspective and skills developed by student affairs educators abroad. Program presented at the 2021 NASPA-IV West Virtual Conference.

Witkowsky, P. (2020). Strategic professional development for student affairs educators. Program presented for the California Community College Student Affairs Association Professional Development Webinar Series. 

Witkowsky, P., Starkey, K., Garnar, M., & Clayton, G. (2019). Academic advisors’ perspectives of dual enrollment credit. Program presented at the 2019 National Symposium on Student Retention, New Orleans, LA.

Witkowsky, P., Starkey, K., Garnar, M., & Clayton, G. (2019). Approaches to advising incoming students with dual enrollment credit. Program presented at the 2019 National Symposium on Student Retention, New Orleans, LA.

Witkowsky, P. (2019). Expect the unexpected: Experiences of U.S.-trained student affairs professionals working abroad. Program presented at the 2019 NASPA: Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education International Symposium, Los Angeles, California.

Witkowsky, P. (2019). Approaches to preparing student affairs professionals for global career opportunities. Program presented at the 2019 NASPA: Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education Convention, Los Angeles, California.

Clayton, G., & Witkowsky, P. (2018). Differences in concurrent enrollment GPA outcomes based on course format. Paper presented at the 2018 Conference of First Year Experience Students in Transition, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Witkowsky, P., & Mendez, S. (2018). Influence of short-term study abroad on student affairs graduate students. Program presented at the 2018 annual ACPA Convention, Houston, Texas.

Bayer, B., & Witkowsky, P. (2018). Implementing a divisional assessment plan without additional resources. Program presented at the 2018 annual ACPA Convention, Houston, Texas.

Nassar, M., et al. (2018). Navigating through assumptions: Faculty transition and social responsibility. Program presented at the 2018 annual ACPA Convention, Houston, Texas.

Witkowsky, P., Obregon, V., Bruner, B., & Alanis, J. (2018). Influence of bilingual parent and family orientation programs on families. Program presented at the 2018 annual ACPA Convention, Houston, Texas.

Witkowsky, P., & Clayton, G. (2017). What makes concurrent enrollment work? The impact and role of high school counselors. Program presented at the 2017 Colorado Council on High School and College Relations conference, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Witkowsky, P. A., Obregon, V., Bruner, B., & Alanis, J. (2017). Influence of bilingual parent and family member orientation programs on sense of belonging and parental involvement in higher education. Poster presented at the Learner Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Witkowsky, P. A. (2016). Encouraging co-curricular engagement in college. Program presented at the 2016 Colorado Council on High School/College Relations Annual Conference Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Witkowsky, P. A., Dinise-Halter, A., Long, S., & Yakaboski, T. (2016). Success strategies of non-traditionally-aged women in student affairs master's programs. Program presented at the 2016 annual ACPA Convention, Montreal, Canada.

Witkowsky, P. A., Broido, E., Mendez, S., Johnson, V., & Oldham, K. (2016). Developing short-term study abroad courses for student affairs preparation programs. Program presented at the 2016 annual ACPA Convention, Montreal, Canada.

Witkowsky, P. A., Mendez, S., Nicholson, H., & Brosseau, J. (2016). Student veterans' experiences in a veterans transition seminar. Program presented at the 2016 annual ACPA Convention, Montreal, Canada.

University

• 2016-Present Member, Student Success Assessment Team
• 2015-Present Member, Curriculum Committee, College of Education
• 2014-2022 Coordinator, Student Affairs in Higher Education program
• 2015-2021 Executive Board Member, Global Intercultural Research Center (GLINT)
• 2017-2018 College of Education Representative, Faculty Assembly
• 2016-2018 Co-Representative for the College of Education, Faculty Minority Affairs Committee (FMAC)
• 2016-2017 Member, College of Education Diversity Committee
• 2016-2017 Ethics Faculty Fellow, Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative

Professional

• 2000-2022 Class Secretary (Occidental College)
• 2013-Present Associate Editor, Journal of College Orientation, Transition, and Retention, NODA: Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention
• 2015-Present Review Board Member, Research in Brief and On-the-Campus sections of the Journal of College Student Development, ACPA: College Student Educators International
• 2018-2020 Faculty-in-Residence, Commission for Global Dimensions of Student Development, ACPA: College Student Educators International
• 2019-2021 Co-Faculty Representative, Orientation, Transition, and Retention Knowledge Community, NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education
• 2015-2018 Reviewer, The Journal of College and University Student Housing, Association for College and University Housing Officers-International
• 2015-2017 Faculty Representative, College Personnel Association of Colorado
• 2014-2017 Directorate Member, Commission for Admissions, Orientation, and the First Year Experience (ACPA: College Student Educators International)
• 2011-2013 Chair, Commission for Wellness (American College Personnel Association)
• 2011 Chair, Region 3 Programming Chair (NODA: Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention)

• Witkowsky, P., Morris, P., & Tapia-Fuselier, N. (2021). Enhancing Digital Leadership for Student Affairs and Higher Education Professionals, UCCS Cybersecurity Initiative, $6,900
• Witkowsky, P., & Bell, M. (2019). The Experiences of Resident Advisors (RAs) Facilitating Social Justice Interactions in the Residential Curriculum Model, ACUHO-I, $6,750
• Witkowsky, P., (2019). Experiences of Post-Traditional Students in Intergenerational Student Affairs Preparation Programs, NASPA IV-West, $500
• Witkowsky, P., (2019). College Access Service Learning in Student Affairs in Higher Education Undergraduate Coursework, UCCS Faculty Resource Center High Impact Practices, $3,000
• Witkowsky, P., & Clayton, G., (2017). Academic Advisor Perspectives and Educational Experiences of High Credit-Bearing Incoming First Year Students, NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising, $3,300
• Witkowsky, P., (2017). Experiences of U.S.-Trained Student Affairs Professionals Working in Higher Education Institutions Abroad, Global Intercultural Research Center (GLINT), University of Colorado Colorado Springs, $3,300
• Clayton, G., & Witkowsky, P., (2017). Student Trends and Advising Practices in Concurrent Enrollment in Colorado, Committee for Research and Creative Works, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, $7,450
• Witkowsky, P., (2016). Influence of Bilingual Parent and Family Member Orientation Programs on Sense of Belonging and Parental Involvement in Higher Education, Faculty Minority Affairs Committee, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, $200
• Witkowsky, P., Obregon, V., & Alanis, J., (2016). Influence of Bilingual Parent and Family Member Orientation Programs on Sense of Belonging and Parental Involvement in Higher Education, NODA: Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention, $1,000
• Witkowsky, P., (2016). The Educational Experiences of Non-Traditionally-Aged Female Student Affairs Graduate Students, Faculty Assembly Women’s Committee, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, $500
• Recipient (2015), Online Course Development Grant, Faculty Resource Center, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, $2,000
• Witkowsky, P., (2015). Intercultural Development Inventory training, Faculty Minority Affairs Committee, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, $410
• Witkowsky, P., (2014). The Educational Experiences of Non-Traditionally-Aged Female Student Affairs Graduate Students, Faculty Assembly Women’s Committee, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, $500