Nevada State Senate
Dr. Pat holds several accredited degrees; a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Political Science from the Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA; a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from The Seminary of the Southwest; and a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from Walden University. Her military education includes Military Police Officer Basic and Advanced Courses; Equal Opportunity Management Institute; Military Public Affairs Officer; Food Advisor and Technical Supervisor course; Nuclear Biological, and Chemical Training Course; Command and General Staff College
Pat is an Ordained Minister, former Pastor, and serves on the Global Social Justice Ministry Team of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries. She is also a former part-time lecturer at the University of Louisville and Professor of Military Science at Kentucky State University. Pat served in the U.S. Army for more than two decades and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel and her final assignment was at the Pentagon as a member of the Army Operations Center for worldwide missions. Dr. Spearman earned a Doctorate in Business Administration from Walden University with an emphasis on Energy Policy. She is serving in her third term as a Nevada State Senator representing North as Vegas Senate District 1 and as Senate President Pro-Tempore .
Her doctoral study, Using Sustainable Development as a Competitive Strategy, provided her the opportunity to gain professional and academic expertise to facilitate improvements in policy development and implementation within the energy industry. Global researchers have read or referenced her Doctoral Study more than 1,000 times and that number is growing. She is also a published author. In 2015, Dr. Pat co-authored “A Call to Action: Military and Civilian Collaboration in Energy Policy Discussions”. The research is Chapter 7 in Volume X of the Refractive Thinker (RT). The RT is a 15-time, award winning, and international peer-reviewed anthology series. She has spoken at several events promoting “Energy Independence, Energy and National Security, and the importance of expanding Renewable and Clean Energy. In 2017, she was one of the featured speakers in the HBO Documentary “Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution”. In 2017 she was also invited to be one of the speakers for the 2017 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) C3E Women in Clean Energy Symposium
Pat has also received national recognition for her work including 2018 Solar Champion Award (renewable energy), 2015 Female Veteran of the Year EMG (advocate for military and veterans services), 2018 Visionary Voice Award for her work on behalf of sexual assault and human trafficking survivors (National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). In 2017, Women in the Legislative Lobby (WiLL) selected her to receive their coveted Pacesetter Award for her work on women’s equality issues. Her military honors include Army Staff Badge, Joint Service Accommodation Medal, Army Commendation medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
In 2020, Dr. Spearman was awarded the Charles Dick Medal of Merit during the 142nd Annual General Conference of the National Guard Association of the United States. The award recognizes exemplary support from an elected official (Legislators and Governors) to acknowledge their exceptional contributions to the National Guard. The recipient’s support must have a long-term positive affect on the members and mission of the National Guard. In October of 2020, Senator Spearman received the Equality Leadership Award for her legislative work and unwavering committed leadership to the LGBTQ+ community as an elected official in Nevada