Pridal Named New VPAA

Cottey College is pleased to announce the hiring of Cathryn G. Pridal, Ph.D., as its new vice president for academic affairs (VPAA) and dean of the faculty. Pridal will assume her duties at the College on July 1. She replaces Dr. Mary E. Kitterman who is retiring.

Dr. Pridal has been employed at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, since 1996. She is a professor of psychology and also served as the associate dean of the faculty at Westminster from July 2002 to July 2008. In that position, she oversaw functions in the academic area of the college, participated in board of trustees meetings, and served as a member of the president’s cabinet.

Prior to her arrival at Westminster, Dr. Pridal was a clinical assistant professor in the department of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri in Columbia from 1988 to 1995. Dr. Pridal also was an adjunct professor in the department of psychology at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, from 1987 to 1991 and a visiting assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine in the medical school at the University of Missouri in Columbia from 1987 through 1988. Dr. Pridal was the supervising psychologist at University Psychiatry in College Station, Texas, from 1985 through 1987. She also was a visiting assistant professor in the department of psychology at Texas A&M University in College Station. From October 1984 through April 1985 she worked as a staff psychologist with MHMR [Mental Health Mental Retardation] Authority of Brazos Valley, College Station, Texas.

At Cottey, Dr. Pridal will serve as the chief academic officer and report directly to the President, Dr. Judy Rogers. The VPAA is responsible for planning, administering and enhancing the academic program, and overseeing the following support areas: academic and career services, registrar, library, international programs, international students, and academic computing.

Dr. Pridal earned a B.A. in psychology from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota; and an M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York. She is an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow, completing her year-long fellowship at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, in 2008.

Dr. Pridal is a member of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA); the American Psychological Association in both Division 2, Teaching of Psychology, and Division 12, Clinical Psychology; the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology; and holds a license as a health services provider in the state of Missouri.

Dr. Pridal’s scholarly achievements comprise over twenty publications and presentations
on topics ranging from human sexual functioning, gender roles, service learning, and the self-study process.