Dr. Kathleen B. Lustyk Appointed Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Prescott Campus

Lustyk is a professor of psychology and joins Embry-Riddle from Seattle Pacific University, where she is the outgoing Chair of the Department of Psychology. Her professional affiliations include the Western Psychological Association, the Society for Women's Health Research, and the Society for Psychophysiology Research.

"Upon the completion of a national search that attracted many exceptionally qualified candidates, we are very pleased to welcome Dr. Kathy Lustyk to the Embry-Riddle family," said Ayers. "She brings a history of excellence in the areas of university service, teaching, and scholarship, and a focus on student success and faculty support. As the campus and university continue their rapid growth into a variety of ever more diverse and technical endeavors, Kathy's leadership will be a key part of that future."

Lustyk also led the Women's Health Lab as a part of the School of Psychology, Family, and Community at Seattle Pacific University. Under her tenure, the lab investigated psychophysiological and neuroendocrine stress responses in women and the role that mindfulness plays in those responses. Lustyk has a long history of investigating the female stress response and its interrelationships with health, behavior, and quality of life.

She has been awarded the Outstanding Research Article from the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, and the Faculty Advisor Appreciation Award from Psi Chi, National Honor Society in Psychology. Lustyk has been named Professor of the Year for the School of Psychology, Family, and Community at Seattle Pacific University.

Lustyk's appointment as Dean came after a series of campus-wide presentations from top contenders last April, where she presented her vision for the future of the College of Arts and Sciences in a STEM University, and held an Open Forum to field questions from the Prescott Campus community.

"I am very excited about the future of the College of Arts and Sciences under Dr. Lustyk's leadership," added Dr. Richard Bloom, Chief Academic Officer at Embry-Riddle's Prescott Campus. "She has extremely significant and successful experience in academic teaching, student mentoring, administration, and research. She has worked most impressively with constituents from many different academic disciplines."

Lustyk holds a Ph.D. in Physiological Psychology with a specialization in Endocrinology from the University of Washington, Seattle.

"I am honored and thrilled to serve as the new Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Embry-Riddle", said Lustyk. "The deep sense of community on the Prescott Campus is magnetic, and I feel very fortunate to be counted among its members."