Abilene Christian University is proud to announce Dr. Kristin Koetting O’Byrne, college professor in ACU Online’s Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership program, as the 2025 ACU Online Teacher of the Year. Known affectionately as “Dr. KK” to the Wildcat community, Kristin has made a lasting impact through her dedication to student growth, her passion for positive leadership, and her commitment to living out ACU’s mission in every class she teaches.
KK remembers the moment her name was read twice at the 10th anniversary celebration. A few minutes earlier, she had already received the Excellence in Research Award for her work in Positive Psychology. Hearing her name again, this time as the recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award, felt surreal. “That moment in receiving both of those awards was the culmination of hundreds of micromoments with students,” she said. “That was such a peak moment for me.”
Her journey with Positive Psychology began long before she joined the ACU Online family. When the field first emerged, KK felt immediately drawn to it. Later, after encountering a toxic leader, her purpose became even clearer. “I vowed that I was going to give positive psychology to leaders,” she said. She was determined not to create a program that was simply “a repair tool” for leadership but one that developed positive, intentional leaders capable of building healthy workplace cultures. Partnering with Dr. Heather Rasmussen, they designed and pitched what would eventually become the Positive Leadership track.
Much of KK’s approach to teaching is shaped by her own experience as a student. As someone who is neurodivergent, she remembers the teachers who took the time to understand her and how deeply their impact shaped her path. “For me, it’s the relationship with the student,” she said. “So I can learn about who they are, and how I can help them.”
This commitment to truly knowing her students is woven into her daily work. She recalls one learner on the verge of dropping the program after struggling with a writing assignment. KK reached out, listened, and offered an alternative, turning the essay into a recorded presentation. What she received in return moved her to tears. “I was literally crying watching it because she nailed it! Her zest for learning, her material, her knowledge all came through and I loved it!” That moment reaffirmed her belief in flexibility, compassion and designing coursework that allows every student to flourish.
KK O’Byrne’s story is a reminder that teaching at its core is relational. It is built on trust, empathy, and the willingness to meet students where they are. Whether she is supporting a struggling learner, celebrating a breakthrough, or shaping the future of positive leadership, Dr. KK leads with intention and heart. ACU is honored to recognize her as the 2025 ACU Online Teacher of the Year, and even more honored to have her as part of the Wildcat family.
