In addition to her teaching at the University of Memphis as Associate Professor of Cello, she has guest taught around the country at institutions such as the Cleveland Institute of Music, Interlochen School of the Arts, Frost School of Music University of Miami, Louisiana State University, University of Utah, Virginia Tech University, University of Denver, Ball State University, Colorado State University, University of New Mexico and University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg among others. 

​Dr. Patterson has instructed inner-city students as a fellowship recipient of her alma mater, the Juilliard School, as well as students of the Aspen Music Festival and School’s M.O.R.E Program. With support from the United States’ State Department, Dr. Patterson taught and performed as a guest artist at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan in early 2014. She has also instructed cellists of the Manila Symphony Orchestra in the Philippines. Dr. Patterson was a guest teacher for the Denver Young Artists' Orchestra and was a teaching artist for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Patterson serves on the board for the Memphis Youth Symphony Program and the Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestras. Kimberly was a graduate assistant to the renowned Takács Quartet at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Dr. Patterson’s students have won positions with Orchestra Iowa and the Guangzhou Symphony. In addition, students have attended the Juilliard School, Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra, the Tanglewood Institute, All-National Youth Orchestra, and Colorado and Tennessee All State Orchestras.  Alumni hold cello teaching positions at Arkansas State University, Rhodes College, and Union University, numerous K-12 schools, and administration positions with the Pittsburgh Symphony and Memphis Symphony.