Texas Woman’s has selected an expert communicator, collaborator, research leader and familiar face to serve as the university’s next dean of the College of Professional Education.
Brigitte Vittrup, PhD, who has served as interim dean since July 2024, will have the temporary tag removed and officially assumes the permanent role on June 1.
Vittrup will continue to build on the college’s momentum. She established a peer-mentoring group to increase student retention. She also moved toward incorporating a competency-based model for some of the college’s programs while also establishing new academic partnerships, both to grow enrollment.
“Dr. Vittrup brings extensive leadership experience to this role and has already made a meaningful impact during her time as interim dean,” said Angela Bauer, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “She has led efforts to enhance student retention and laid the groundwork for developing curricular pathways that incorporate competency-based education. A strong advocate for faculty, Dr. Vittrup earned broad support throughout the search process, a reflection of her collaborative and inclusive leadership style.”
As a professor, Vittrup’s teaching expertise includes child development, research methods, and statistics, and her research focuses on child and family issues and media influences on children. Her research has been featured in academic journals, as well as major news outlets, including the Washington Post, Newsweek and NPR.
Over the last seven years Vittrup has served as a department chair for Human Development, Family Studies & Counseling (now the School of Human Sciences); acting director of the School of Library and Information Studies; as assistant department chair; and undergraduate program coordinator for Child Development.
She earned a PhD in developmental psychology and a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas; a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas State University; and another bachelor’s degree in radio, television and film from the University of Texas.
