Kansas State University

Lutter named interim director of School of Family Studies and Human Services

Submitted by College of Human Ecology

Sonya Lutter, associate professor of personal financial planning, has been named the interim director of the School of Family Studies and Human Services following the departure of Dottie Durband.

She began her duties in July.

"The School of Family Studies and Human Services will continue thriving under Dr. Lutter," said Mark Haub, food, nutrition, dietetics and health department head and search committee chair. "She successfully managed the growing Personal Financial Planning program and being a graduate of two programs within the school gives her a unique perspective as interim director. Her experience in financial planning will prove beneficial given the budgetary changes and issues we are currently dealing with."

Lutter received her bachelor's and master's degree from Kansas State University and her doctorate from Texas Tech University.

Lutter is a certified financial planner professional with training in marriage and family therapy. As a researcher and teacher of financial planning and financial therapy, Lutter explores the role of money in couple relationships, families and for the individual. Her research on money arguments and their influence on relationship satisfaction and divorce and has been referenced in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger's and Yahoo! Finance to name a few. Her developmental work in the emerging field of financial therapy is summarized in "Financial Therapy: Theory, Research, and Practice" with co-editors Brad Klontz and Kristy Archuleta. Lutter has applied her research over the last 10 years into a Love and Money curriculum and forthcoming book for young couples.

She has been active in promoting financial literacy and financial well-being on campus, working with multidisciplinary teams to focus on first-generation students, food insecurity and veterinary and pre-veterinary students. Lutter's work at the financial counseling centers at Texas Tech University and Kansas State University have guided her effectiveness of financial counseling research agenda. Her work with college financial counseling programs culminates with a co-edited book with Durband titled, "Student Financial Literacy: Campus-Based Program Development."

The School of Family Studies and Human Services offers a variety of programs that are dedicated to making a difference in people's lives. Programs offered include applied family science, communication sciences and disorders, conflict analysis and trauma studies, conflict resolution, couple and family therapy, early childhood education, family and community services, human development and family science, life span human development, personal financial planning and youth development. The School of Family Studies and Human Services can be found across many of the K-State campuses, including K-State Polytechnic and Global Campus.