CHICAGO (Oct. 22, 2020) – Western Governors University (WGU) today announced the hiring of Patrick Devanney as strategic partnerships manager. Devanney will work to expand the fully online, nonprofit university’s partnership network across the Greater Chicago area and further develop employer relationships, while promoting the value of WGU’s educational programs.
Devanney comes to WGU with more than 10 years’ experience in higher education and strategy development. He most recently served three years with the University of Illinois at Chicago as associate director for the university’s Engineering Career Center. There, he was in charge of building new company relationships with a variety of local, national and global companies and developing new programs to reach targeted student populations. Prior to that, he worked for Wellspring House Inc’s educational resource collaborative in Gloucester, Mass., where he was responsible for recruiting college students and other volunteers to mentor adult learners, while also developing relationships with colleges, community organizations, workforce development boards and employers. His background also includes serving five years with Boston University. In his final position there as assistant director, career coaching/lecturer, he was in charge of building and expanding existing university-wide partnerships, while coaching, teaching and mentoring students on a variety of career-building and career exploration topics.
“We are thrilled to welcome Patrick to our team,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Regional Vice President of Western Governors University. “WGU’s partnership efforts are vital to increasing student access, improving affordability and enhancing the student experience, and his shared passion for non-profit, competency-based education makes him an excellent fit for the strategic partnerships manager position. We look forward to working with him as we continue our efforts to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education throughout the Chicagoland area.”
Devanney holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Higher Education from University of Maine at Orono and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences from University of Connecticut at Storrs. He resides in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood.
About WGU
Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more than 123,000 students nationwide and has more than 190,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the
nation’s leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 22 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families, and preparing the workforce needed in today’s rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. Learn more at www.wgu.edu.
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