University President

Devin Byrd, Ph.D. joined Bastyr University in 2021 as the sixth president of the institution. His background includes a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and over 20 years of experience in university-based leadership.

About Dr. Devin Byrd

Professional Achievements:

  • Partnering with program faculty, staff and administration across the university to successfully achieve accreditation for every program capable of pursuing accreditation   

  • Assisting faculty and academic supervisors in achieving their professional and programmatic goals by providing support, guidance and mentorship   

  • Achieving the development and launch of new programs on multiple campuses and online division  

  • Successfully leading an institution through the strategic planning process including students, staff, faculty, alumni and board of trustees members  

 

In 1994, Dr. Byrd graduated from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, and in 2000, graduated from Virginia Tech with a Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in Clinical Psychology. During his graduate studies, he completed his pre-doctoral internship at Brown University where he served as the Intern Representative for the Child track and completed rotations at the VA PTSD clinic, Bradley School, Child/Adolescent Inpatient facility and the Child/Adolescent Anxiety Disorders clinic. 

From 2000 to 2005, he was a professor and researcher at University of South Carolina in the Department of Psychology. His research interests included the biopsychosocial examination of depression and anxiety and children, adolescents and young adults. 

Starting in 2006, Dr. Byrd then began his tenure with South University in Savannah, GA where he eventually served as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Interim Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences. His responsibilities included oversight for five colleges including the School of the Institution, and the supervision of the deans, faculty and curriculum. An additional function of this role was to oversee the development and launch of new academic programs to achieve programmatic accreditation.  Dr. Byrd also served as the Dean for the College of Health Professions, Interim Dean for the College of Nursing and Public Health, Department Chair and Program Director for the Professional Counseling program.      

In 2019, Dr. Byrd joined Saybrook University in Pasadena, CA and eventually became the Vice President for Academic Affairs. His main responsibility was fiscal oversight including overseeing budgets for all academic programs and the Academic Affairs Operations division such as registrar, library, writing center and the research department. This included overall university budgeting and reforecasting based upon student enrollment and expenses. In addition, he promoted integrative health programs such as the Mind Body Medicine, Integrative Functional Nutrition and other programs including counseling, psychology, and clinical psychology degrees.     

When not working, Dr. Byrd enjoys spending time with family, traveling, sporting events, theatre and outdoor activities such as cycling and skiing.  He has been married for over 24 years and has three children.