Dr. Christopher Vye, chair of the Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) at the University of St. Thomas, will retire at the end of the spring 2025 semester after 26 years. For the last 12 years, Vye has held leadership within the school, bringing in his 36 years of expertise as a practicing psychologist specializing in anxiety, OCD, and related disorders.
Vye has played a key role in its development and success during his tenure at St. Thomas. From 2010 to 2013, he served as associate dean in the former College of Education, Leadership, and Counseling. His involvement in the St. Thomas strategic planning committee formed in 2015 helped to shape the Morrison Family College of Health and establish the GSPP as a unit within it.
The school, which prepares practitioners for hands-on work in medical settings, clinics, and counseling centers, was well suited for Vye given his professional practice, academic research and teaching experience.
Vye has remained committed to advancing both the field and the school’s development. Through his practice and research on anxiety, along with a 2007 book, Under Pressure and Overwhelmed: Coping with Anxiety in College, he has contributed to helping countless others navigate mental health challenges.
“I love to learn. One of the privileges of my role has been learning from my colleagues,” Vye said. “Teaching requires staying current with developments in our field; the practice piece grounds me—it keeps me connected with the skills necessary to facilitate healing in relationships with others.”
Vye received the Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award from the Minnesota Psychological Association in 2007; when stepping into leadership, he chose to continue teaching psychopathology courses in the master’s and doctoral programs to strengthen his connection to students and better understand the faculty perspective.
Catherine Johnson, who studied under Vye, was deeply influenced by having him as her doctoral project committee chair. “He embodies my concept of the lifelong learning principles of higher education; enabling one to learn, envision and operationalize the unknown,” Johnson said. “In addition to his academic support, he has had a continued interest in my passion to influence and support eldercare guiding my ability to contribute to the community in ways that are rewarding and effective.”
“I didn’t get into academia to move into academic leadership. It kind of pulled me in,” Vye said. "I'm glad it did because I’ve learned a tremendous amount through being able to help foster a sense of community and facilitate people working together.”
He draws inspiration from his faculty mentor and predecessor, Skip Nolan, whose leadership style he aspired to emulate. Nolan retired in 2010 after working with the university for over 30 years.
“As the chair, a professor, and mentor, Dr. Vye knew each student personally and believed in who we could become,” said Andrea Hutchinson ’07 M.A. ’12 Psy.D. “His passion for learning and his unwavering dedication to students will continue to inspire us and shape the legacy he leaves behind.”
Dr. Bryana French, associate chair of the Graduate School of Professional Psychology, who will assume the chair position after Vye’s retirement, describes him as a protector and collaborator – attributing the school’s close-knit community to his ability to stay calm under pressure, advocate for others and share leadership.
She also commented on his mentoring leadership style. “He tries to meet people’s needs, supporting their professional development, no matter where they’re at in their career – staff and faculty members.”
Among colleagues, Vye is known for his commitment to the department and a competitive athletic spirit. French noted: “He’s an avid pickleball player and bicyclist. He was teaching my husband and another psychology faculty member how to play pickleball. It was Chris against those two, and he still beat them embarrassingly.”
After retirement, Vye says he is going to spend more time tending to his relationships and won’t completely stop practicing just yet; he will continue to practice psychology on a limited basis.
