Eric Patterson is currently a M.A. student focusing on Chinese Anthropology. He received his B.S from the University of South Carolina in Business Administration with a minor in East Asian Studies. Prior to coming to U of A, he spent three years working for the Fortune 500 company Newell Brands, working in Marketing and Sales. After a time, he decided to follow his passion for East Asian Studies and continue on to higher education. His current research interest is the impact the Chinese New Silk Road Initiative will have on human society in East Asia. He is also interested in researching the influx of Asian students in the American collegiate education system. His hobbies are golf, tennis, and gaming.