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Renee Patton

Former Global Director of Education and Healthcare

Global Industry Solutions Group

Renee Patton was the leader of Global Education and Healthcare at Cisco.  In this role, she was responsible for Cisco’s go-to-market strategy for these two industries and managed a team of education and healthcare consultants who help customers realize their visions through the logical placement of technology within schools, colleges, universities, and healthcare institutions.

She has over 25 years of business, management, sales, and marketing experience in both small start-up and large corporate environments, including Siemens. She ran her own marketing consulting firm for over seven years prior to joining Cisco full time.

Prior to moving into US Public Sector, Renee served as Worldwide Industry Marketing Education Lead within Cisco’s Corporate Marketing Organization where she was responsible for developing Cisco’s education messaging platform and driving Cisco’s position in the education market.  Prior to this role, she managed Cisco’s national E-rate Program and served as the lead for US Education Field Marketing.

While studying for her Master’s Degree in Education from Stanford, Renee began teaching high school English and French, coaching cross-country, and moderating the student yearbook and newspaper.  She then spent four years on the Los Gatos-Saratoga JUHS Board of Trustees and was responsible for managing policy and a $20M district budget.

She brings a clear perspective to addressing business issues and an in-depth understanding of the K-12 and Higher Education markets.  She is particularly interested in trends driving the massive shift in education delivery models, new educational approaches, and ways that technology can help to engage learners and prepare teachers.  Renee is a Lions' Club Member and is on the board  of the Los Gatos High School Alumni Association.  She holds a BA degree in English from Santa Clara University and an MA in Education from Stanford University.

 

Articles

March 19, 2018

EDUCATION

Going digital? 5 change management tips for schools

2 min read

Managing the convergence of technology and pedagogy can be challenging. Discover how these 5 organizational change management strategies can help you create next-generation learning environments.

October 12, 2017

EDUCATION

Cisco, E-rate, and the Digital Journey in K-12

1 min read

New and emerging technologies are fueling exciting innovation in education, and students are embracing new ways of learning. Funding support from the E-rate program helps make technology investments more affordable.

July 13, 2017

EDUCATION

Solving the Puzzle of 21st Century Learning in a New Way

1 min read

What happens when students are put on a bus full of technology and asked to problem-solve in a new way? They learn to collaborate, create and think critically. This is the concept behind iSchool Initiative’s “Escape the Bus” challenge. The bus has mobilized the popular escape room concept into a classroom on wheels. Players must […]

November 7, 2016

EDUCATION

Final Thoughts from EDUCAUSE 2016

1 min read

While EDUCAUSE 2016 has come and gone, there were countless introductions and insights presented last week that will influence higher education until Philadelphia next year. One of the highlights this year was the launch of the new Cisco Digital Education Platform.  This platform makes it easier for colleges and universities to offer online courses and programs […]

October 28, 2016

EDUCATION

EDUCAUSE 2016: Update from the Show

2 min read

Hello from Anaheim! I’ve had the chance to connect with tons of colleges and universities at EDUCAUSE 2016, and there have been many great breakout sessions. By far, the biggest trend this year is digital everything. Everywhere I look, digital challenges and solutions are front and center. In fact, according to a recent Campus Computing survey, […]

October 27, 2016

EDUCATION

Virtual Courses Are Now Second Nature

2 min read

With EDUCAUSE in full swing, Cisco is thrilled to announce the launch of a new Digital Education Platform – right from the show floor in Anaheim, California!

March 23, 2016

EDUCATION

Upcoming Webinar: Pennsylvania School uses E-Rate to Deploy Meraki Solution

1 min read

Schools districts all around the country have been using E-rate funding to spark a digital transformation in their classrooms.

March 10, 2016

EDUCATION

Don’t Wait, Apply for E-rate!

2 min read

E-Rate applications are due April 29th! If you are unsure what E-Rate can do for you, these Cisco resources help with what you need to know -- now.

February 29, 2016

EDUCATION

Learn How to Lead the Digital Transformation in Higher Education

1 min read

Have you heard? There’s a digital revolution coming, and it’s going to change higher education as we know it. Colleges and universities are facing societal shifts and changing attitudes towards higher education, but modern technology can help improve both the academic and administrative experience. This digital revolution – and the broader digitization of higher education […]

February 4, 2016

EDUCATION

Using E-Rate to lead a Digital Transformation in Education

1 min read

For many businesses, technology has become an integral part of operations, transforming the way people learn, think, and do their jobs. With the right tools, K-12 school districts can experience these same transformational benefits. Digital transformation in education means using technology to create better access to educational experiences for students. That can be using mobile […]

November 11, 2015

EDUCATION

Learning from EDUCAUSE 2015

2 min read

EDUCAUSE is always one of my favorite conferences, and this year was no exception. While many of the discussion topics weren’t new, they did focus on issues that are gaining steam, such as mobile device management (MDM) and how to prevent cybersecurity breaches. Last week, I shared some of the things I was hearing on […]

October 29, 2015

EDUCATION

Checking in from EDUCAUSE 2015

2 min read

Hello from EDUCAUSE 2015! I’m checking in from Indianapolis to share a little bit about what has been discussed so far. Yesterday, I heard an excellent general session from Daniel Pink, had the chance to attend multiple sessions on everything from the affordability of course materials to the personalization of the student experience, and spoke […]

October 21, 2015

EDUCATION

No Limits on Learning

1 min read

EDUCAUSE 2015 – one of the leading events in higher education – will take place starting on October 27th in Indianapolis, Indiana. The conference gives national education experts a chance to hear from industry leaders and learn about the latest technology developments in higher education. Here at Cisco we’re excited to return to EDUCAUSE again […]

September 30, 2015

EDUCATION

Summary – #WednesdayWalkabout Series: Learn Without Limits

1 min read

What if… …We lived in a world where each and every child has equal access to a quality education… …A place where all students can learn new and innovative skills,...

September 30, 2015

GOVERNMENT

#WednesdayWalkabout Series: Learn Without Limits

3 min read

Co-authored with Dani Schrakamp Learn Without Limits Today’s new technology trends, particularly those around digitization and the Internet of Everything, present education with an unprecedented amplifier. We now have...

June 23, 2015

EDUCATION

Cybersecurity 101: Assessing the Threat & Mitigating Cyber Risks in Higher Education

1 min read

Cybersecurity threats in the higher education community continue to rise at an alarming rate. Poor security strategies and the need for open learning environments make securing these institutions an even harder problem to solve. It is no longer a matter of whether or not you will be hacked, rather when. Higher education leaders are recognizing […]

June 22, 2015

EDUCATION

Campus Safety National Forum – Leveraging Technology to Increase Campus Safety

1 min read

This week, Cisco is sponsoring the Campus Safety National Forum in Washington, DC. This two-day conference is the premier National Forum for helping security and law enforcement executives, healthcare and education administrators and other education stakeholders from across the country learn how to better safeguard the lives and property on their campuses. At Cisco, we […]

June 17, 2015

EDUCATION

Overcoming Cancer in a Connected World

2 min read

My Story: Beth Carter from LCPS-TV on Vimeo. Growing up, we all had a favorite teacher. It may have been an impassioned English teacher keen on Shakespeare and Tolkien or perhaps a Science teacher with an over-the-top flair for dramatic experiments. As teachers, they inspired and challenged us. As memories, they continue to travel with […]

June 5, 2015

EDUCATION

Join us at Cisco Live to see how IoE Improves Learning Outcomes

1 min read

Analysts agree that academic institutions worldwide face more complex challenges than ever before and are under tremendous pressure to cut costs. At the same time, they also need to provide greater access to education, increased security, and improved outcomes and services, among others. Through solutions enabled by the Internet of Everything (IoE), these academic institutions […]

June 4, 2015

EDUCATION

Cisco Education: Learn Without Limits

1 min read

There’s no doubt that learning is changing. In the past, learning was constrained by time and place. We all might remember, fondly or not, the traditional...

January 15, 2015

EDUCATION

Technology and its Power to Transform Society – Where do you Stand?

1 min read

Educators are using technologies like Cisco Webex to deliver anytime, anywhere learning, bring experts from across the country and the globe into their classrooms, and provide ubiquitous access to an astounding amount of resources on the Internet. Now, educators, along with their students across the country, are using it to have conversations that transform society.  […]

January 7, 2015

EDUCATION

In Education, The Internet of Everything is Really a Thing

1 min read

When talking about whether or not something is important in modern-day life, my Millennial sons often ask, “Is that really a thing?”  For example, renting a dog on Craigslist, is that a thing? I’m here to tell you that the Internet of Everything (IoE) is really a thing in Education, and the use cases for […]

December 15, 2014

EDUCATION

Transforming Education with the Internet of Everything at San Jose State

1 min read

Forward-thinking faculty members and staff at San Jose State University are using Internet of Everything technologies in innovative ways to transform education: Project Assistant Quyen Grant is using Cisco collaboration technologies to expand learning across international borders, working with students and universities in Vietnam through the Social Work Education Enhancement Program (SWEEP); Advertising Professor John […]

November 20, 2014

EDUCATION

E-rate Modernization: It Just Goes to Show…

1 min read

…what we can do as a nation to solve what appear to be some of the most insurmountable problems in the world, such as access to the Internet for students in schools across the county.  Astoundingly, 68% of all school districts (73% of rural districts) say that not a single school in their district can […]

September 29, 2014

EDUCATION

The Not-So-Silent Revolution: The Internet of Everything in Higher Education

2 min read

Change has come slowly to higher education.  This is understandable given the relative success that the American university system has had in granting four-year degrees that have helped students garner higher long-term earnings.  Regardless, the traditional university system is facing crushing pressure from increasing student loan debt, rising costs, and expectations of hyper-connected students who […]

IoE Can Be Key to More Energy Efficient Colleges

2 min read

The Internet of Everything (IoE) is becoming more real than ever, particularly in education. As we begin to see this massive transformation taking place, schools for both K-12 and higher education are utilizing Cisco networks to run applications and pilot projects that benefit both the students and the faculty.  We expect to see more and […]

July 3, 2014

EDUCATION

#HigherEdThursdays – Using Technology to Create Cultural Shifts

2 min read

Thank you for being a part of our Higher Ed Thursdays conversations.  Today concludes this series, and we’re looking forward to re-starting the discussion near the beginning of the school year.  New trends are emerging for the next phase of our discussion, including how to secure your campus environment and intellectual property, how the Internet […]

July 1, 2014

EDUCATION

#ISTE2014 – Beyond Connectedness to the Internet of Everything

3 min read

ISTE 2014 marks the launch of summertime for many educators as they come together to connect and share ideas about technology and innovation.  Unsurprisingly, the theme of “connectedness” continues with this year’s show in Atlanta.  The ability for schools to connect to the Internet and help make access to technology ubiquitous is changing learning in […]

April 17, 2014

EDUCATION

#HigherEdThursdays: Current Trends and Challenges in Higher Education

3 min read

We are all seeing colleges and universities across the nation experiencing a massive disruption in how they deliver quality learning experiences to their students.  Those that continue down the path of status quo will miss this shift and become obsolete at best and out of business at best.  In his New York Times article, “Innovation […]

February 4, 2014

EDUCATION

Cisco Supports Goals of Presidential Initiative to Connect More Schools and Libraries to the Internet

4 min read

Cisco – with more than 15 years of experience in implementing technology solutions in K-12 schools — strongly supports the goals of President Obama’s initiative to connect more schools and libraries to the Internet, and at faster speeds. We understand that technology is changing the world.  Our children aren’t just competing against the kids down […]

October 3, 2013

EDUCATION

Connecting… The Isolated

2 min read

I’ll never forget my first day as a brand new high school teacher.   As a young college graduate (with absolutely no experience teaching and a one-hour course on classroom management), I stood stiffly in front of the room on that hot end-of-summer day, afraid to crack a smile.  Thankfully, a more seasoned teacher had taken […]

September 5, 2013

EDUCATION

Connecting Every School in America To High – Speed broadband

3 min read

In every school district in America today, educators are faced with a simple, yet critically important, question.  How do we obtain, implement, and integrate transformative technology into all of our schools and classrooms? Some districts have embraced technology and put mobile and collaborative devices in the hands of students.   In The Katy School District in […]