Elizabeth D. Capaldi Phillips, 72, Professor of Psychology and Provost Emerita at ASU, died on September 23, 2017. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Rochester in 1965 and her Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1969. Phillips' long and productive career as a research scientist was particularly focused on the psychology of eating, a subject on which she edited two books, including Why We Eat What We Eat: The Psychology of Eating and Taste, Experience and Feeding with T.L. Powley. She was a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science (president in 1999-2000), and the Midwestern Psychological Association (president in 1991-92). From 1987-1989 she served as Chair of the Psychobiology and Behavior Research Review Committee of the National Institute of Mental Health.

Phillips' career began at Purdue University, where she rose to Head of the Department of Psychological Sciences (1983-88) and Assistant Dean of the Graduate School (1982-86). She moved to the University of Florida in 1988, and served as Provost from 1996-99. At Florida, she was instrumental in creating a new student advising system which was responsible for dramatic improvements in graduation rates. In 2000 Phillips became Provost and Professor of Psychology at the University at Buffalo, subsequently moving to Albany to take up a position as Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff of the State University of New York in 2003. During her tenure the Office of Science Technology Transfer and Economic Outreach was created at the University at Buffalo and sponsored research increased substantially. 

From 2006 to 2013, Phillips served as University Provost and Executive Vice President of ASU, becoming the first woman to hold the post, shepherding the university through an exciting period of transformation and growth. She provided leadership to all of ASU's campuses and academic programs, fostering excellence in teaching, research and service to the community. She had an unflagging commitment to equality, access, inclusion, interdisciplinary, and technological innovation in the service of student-centered education. She worked with President Michael Crow in transforming ASU into a 'New American University,' that aimed to challenge the standard definition of a research university by 'measuring its academic success through the education that the graduates have received rather than the qualifications of the incoming freshman class.' After retiring from administration, in 2016, Phillips, whose research was widely cited in the popular press and media, hosted a show for Arizona public television based on her ongoing experimental work with animal and human subjects, 'Eating Psychology with Betty.' Here she discussed the 'biology, genetics, social and learned behaviors of tasting and eating food,' urging audiences to 'train their taste buds,' to enjoy their food without guilt or shame, and to apply what they learned in their own kitchens. Phillips, who served as co-director of the Obesity Solutions Initiative at ASU, used her considerable expertise to give viewers a better understanding of their eating experience. Capaldi Phillips is survived by her husband, Dr. Winfred Phillips, Executive Chief of Staff at the University of Florida, three brothers, three nieces, a nephew and great nieces and nephews. Expressions of sympathy may be expressed by a contribution to a charity of your choice. (Source: The Gainesville Sun)