Irit Gat, Ph.D. 1966-2020

  It is with deepest sorrow that the family of Dr. Irit Gat announce her untimely passing on Tuesday, August 11 at the age of 53.  Born in Juelich, Germany in 1966, Irit was the second child of a family of first-generation immigrants to the U.S. in 1969.  Irit earned a B.A. in Psychology from Emory University in Atlanta, a masters degree from the University of Colorado, and a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska in 2000.  She did post-doctoral work for NASA at Edwards Air Force Base in Lancaster, California and was licensed to practice clinical psychology by the State of California in 2003.  The bulk of her career was as a teacher and academic administrator at Antelope Valley Junior College in Lancaster, California.  Starting as a professor of psychology, she rose to become chair of her department, president of the academic senate, and most recently Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Child and Family Education. She died at home following an illness. Irit had a unique ability to g