Patricia Hardin assumed the position of Assistant Director of International Programs on July 27, 2015. Prior to her work in International Programs, Patricia taught for many years Italian and German language, culture and literature courses at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), James Madison University (JMU) and Washington & Lee University (W&L). She has also served as the Program Director for the VMI Berlin, Germany Summer Study Abroad program from 2010-2019. In 2021, Patricia developed the Engineering Summer Study Abroad program in Rome, Italy in conjunction with John Cabot University in Rome.

Patricia has extensive international experience. She was born in Romania, where she spent the first ten years of her life, then relocated to Germany where she completed high school. After high school, she moved to the US to study at Wake Forest University as a foreign student on an F 1 visa. While at Wake Forest University, she participated in a semester study abroad experience in Venice, Italy.

Patricia received her M.A. in Germanic Languages and Literatures from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and has also completed coursework towards her PhD in Germanic Languages and Literatures at UIUC.

Her research interests lie primarily in the area of 17th century German emblems and foreign language pedagogy.

In her current position in the Office of International Programs, she serves as the primary study abroad advisor and works also in the area of International Student Services.