The board of trustees of Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington, has chosen Devin Byrd as the sixth president of the university. He will take office on July 26.
Bastyr Univerity was founded as a naturopathic medicine college in 1978. It now offers more than 20 degree and certificate programs. The university enrolls only 155 undergraduate students, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Education. More than 800 graduate students are enrolled. African Americans are 3 percent of the student body.
“It is a privilege and an honor to have been selected to lead an institution that is an innovator in the field of natural health,” said Dr. Byrd. “Having an opportunity to become part of a rich and science-based environment at such a pivotal time in academia is very exciting. Initially, I plan to focus on learning more about our university while understanding how I can effectively engage and support the members of our community. My commitment to fulfilling the university’s mission is rooted in addressing the challenges and opportunities within the natural health landscape.”
Dr. Byrd has been serving as vice president of academic affairs and chief academic advisor at Saybrook University in Pasadena, California. Earlier, he was a member of the faculty in the department of psychology at the University of South Carolina. He then held several positions – including dean for the College of Health Professions – at South University in Savannah, Georgia.
In 1994, Dr. Byrd graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Virginia Tech.
