Patricia A Spitzley is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a B.S. in Biology and minor in Chemistry.  She is a recent graduate of Michigan State University College of Law and is currently the Chief of the Office of Legal Services for the Department of Natural Resources. 

Patricia has had a long career in State Government starting as a PCB inspector with the Department of Natural Resources.  She has been blessed to take advantage of opportunities to advance her career in state government working in the Executive Offices of both the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Natural Resources where she now serves as Chief of the Office of Legal Services.  Ms Spitzley was appointed Director of the Office of Communications by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm in 2003.  Her responsibilities as Communications Director was to coordinate the development of the environmental message for the DEQ and to also assist the Governor's Office in conveyance of the DEQ's environmental message. 

She is also an expert on Environmental Justice issues for the DEQ and served as DEQ's Tribal Liaison to the Governor's Office.  In 2005 Ms. Spitzley left the DEQ to become the first African American female to join Michigan's Premier multi-client lobbying firm.  Ms. Spitzley received her J.D. from MSU College of Law and expects to take and pass the Bar Exam in July 2008. 

Patricia said, “My faith, my kids, and my family are the top priorities in my life and have all contributed to making me the person I am today.  I owe everything to them.”