Patricia Van Pelt holds a bachelor's degree in public administration and is a certified public accountant, having attended Truman College and DePaul University. She founded Target Development Corp, an organization dedicated to community improvement through the peaceful eviction of drug dealers. Van Pelt furthered her education with a doctorate in nonprofit management from Capella University. After her 2011 mayoral campaign, she was appointed to the State Charter School Commission, where she worked to expand educational opportunities for at-risk students.

Patricia Van Pelt’s political identity is rooted in her unique blend of grassroots activism and academic rigor, marked by her founding of Target Development Corp to tackle community issues head-on. Her ideological stance is characterized by an unexpected alignment with both progressive and conservative factions on certain issues, as seen in her nuanced approach to education policy. Van Pelt’s rhetorical style is both personal and assertive, leveraging her challenging upbringing and professional achievements to frame her policy positions compellingly.