Cynthia A. Lietz is dean of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and President's Professor in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University.  

Lietz is a seasoned college administrator, having served in a variety of roles including associate dean, vice dean and, currently, dean of the Watts College. She is proud to lead a group of faculty, staff, students, and community members who are committed to working together to address challenges facing our society.  

Lietz is also an active scholar who conducts research that informs strengths-based practice with youth and their families. She examines the process of resilience for young people and their families uncovering the ways family units cope with and grow stronger despite trauma, loss , and other challenges. This includes looking at the strengths (e.g. empathy, social support, spirituality) and the adaptation process that helps young people and their families overcome adversity. 

Lietz is particularly interested in the translation of research to practice. As a result, she developed Strengths-Based Supervision (SBS; Lietz, 2013), a model of clinical supervision that supports effective implementation of family-centered practice in child welfare settings. This model has been adopted by the public child welfare systems in Arizona, Michigan, Florida, Texas , and Idaho. 

Lietz is also known for her passion for student success, serving as PI for ASU’s Bridging Success, a campus-based program of support for ASU students who have a background in foster care. She was also chosen by the Associated Students of Arizona State University for the Centennial Professor Award in 2013 to honor her commitment to teaching and community-based research, was appointed President’s Professor in 2021, and was recognized by the Phoenix Business Journal in 2022 as one of Arizona’s Outstanding Women in Business.