Kathleen Kitto to Retire as Dean of the Graduate School at WWU in 2017

Kathleen Kitto, vice provost for Research and dean of the Graduate School at Western Washington University, will be retiring at the end of the 2016-2017 academic year.

 “It has been an honor and pleasure to work with Kathy Kitto. Going all the way back to our collaborations in the old College of Arts and Sciences, I have known Kathy to be a thoughtful, fair, considerate, wise and hard-working colleague,” said Western Provost Brent Carbajal. “Her work as vice provost and as dean of the Graduate School has been nothing short of stellar, and she leaves a remarkably positive and enduring mark on this campus.  We will miss her greatly, but we wish her all the best in her retirement as we thank her for all that she has done for Western.”

Kitto has been vice provost for Research and dean of the Graduate School since October 2013. From March 2012 to October 2013 she served as acting vice provost and acting dean.

“Everyone who knows me well understands why Western seems to be part of my DNA and how much I have enjoyed being part of the Western community since 1988. My career here has been fabulous and I have been given many opportunities to do evermore-interesting things,” Kitto said.

“When I think about all the people I’ve met along the journey, I am humbled by how much my life has been deeply enriched. And, the wonderful part about the next phase of my life is that there will be still many more opportunities to add to those treasures and for something I deeply value – time with people. While Dennis and I will have more time for each other and travel, our family and grandchildren, we will be as committed as ever to the Western community. You will see us on campus often, but I will look a bit more relaxed,” Kitto said of her retirement plans.

At Western, Kitto also served as associate dean of Western’s College of Sciences and Technology (CST) since its inception in 2003 until 2011, and was special assistant to the Provost for Strategic Initiatives from fall 2011 until fall 2013. She is a professor of Manufacturing Engineering Technology and served as chair of the Engineering Technology Department for seven years. She also served as director of Western’s Advanced Materials Science and Engineering Center.

Kitto has been active in her discipline and led a number of research projects, including a National Science Foundation project to advance the careers of women within the sciences, engineering and mathematics.

She has co-authored three textbooks, written numerous scholarly publications and has served on many review panels and boards. In 2010, Kitto received Western’s Diversity Achievement Award. She was a member of the team that received Western’s Team Recognition awards in 2015, as well as 2010 and 2009. And Kitto was a two-time recipient of the Western Foundation Campus Volunteer of the Year award.

Carbajal said that Kitto’s successor will be selected through a national search.

Western’s Graduate School: The purpose of graduate study at Western is to provide students quality graduate education with opportunities for research and professional development. Graduate programs are intended to prepare students for teaching, entering professions, career advancement and further advanced study.