Paula Lustbader, J.D.

Paula Lustbader, J.D.

President, The Civility Fund
Executive Director, Civility Center for Law at Seattle University
    Executive Director, Alfie Scholars at Seattle University
    Professor Emerita, Seattle University School of Law 

Known for her energy and passion for promoting diversity and civility, Professor Paula Lustbader is an internationally recognized leader, scholar, and speaker on undergraduate and law school teaching and learning theory, academic support programs, diversity, and civility.  

As a law professor, she co-founded and directed the Academic Resource Center and its Access Admissions program at Seattle University School of Law. For 28 years, she provided instruction, support, and mentorship to law students from under-represented groups. In that process, she was and continues to be instrumental in increasing the diversity of the legal profession. She touched the lives of more than 1,000 law students who, on graduation, have gone on to impact the lives of literally thousands of clients and fellow citizens in Washington and across the country.  

In addition to providing countless faculty development trainings, Professor Lustbader helped found the Association of American Law Schools Section on Law School Academic Support, the Law School Admission Council Academic Support Institute, and the Center for Teaching and Learning at Seattle University. She retired from Seattle University School of Law in 2015. Her contribution to the academy nationally was acknowledged in 2015, when she was given the Association of American Law Schools Section on Academic Support Award for Excellence in Legal Education. The Washington State Bar Association recognized Professor Lustbader’s outstanding contributions by naming her co-recipient of the organization’s Award for Excellence in Diversity (2006). In 2010, the Loren Miller Bar Association, the Washington affiliate of National Bar Association, the largest organization of African-American attorneys in the U.S., gave her its President’s Award for her role in increasing diversity in the legal profession. 

Between 2010 and 2015, Professor Lustbader, while in phased retirement from the Law School, founded Robert’s Fund, dedicated to fostering civility in the legal profession, now known as the Civility Center for Law at Seattle University School of Law. www.civilitycenterforlaw.com. As the Executive Director of the Center, Professor Lustbader and her team created CLE programs, including an 8-day seminar in Italy, to promote civility and teach fundamental skills that further civility. In 2015, combining her passion for diversity and civility, Professor Lustbader founded the Alfie Scholars Program at Seattle University, dedicated to cultivating civility leaders. This program provides scholarships, academic enhancement, and civility leadership training to diverse transfer students who are committed to fostering civility on campus and in their professions. Professor Lustbader designed the program, leads a team of faculty and staff, and teaches in the Alfie Scholars signature programing for each cohort.  

View Professor Lustbader's CV

Scott Petit, M.A., LMHC

Senior Director of the Psychology of Civility Curriculum and Program Development and Financial Manager

Scott Petit brings his 25 years working as a psychotherapist to the Civility Fund. His work with individuals and couples has provided him with a unique perspective and skill-set that helps people gain self-awareness and psychological health, and develop effective ways of relating with others. These are critical aspects to foster civility. Scott works with the Fund’s two main programs: the Civility Center for the Law and Alfie Scholars. As the Associate Director, he is responsible for developing the curricula on the Psychology of Civility and on the Fundamentals of Civil Communication. This work combines compassionate self-awareness and effective communication skills, with the goal of cultivating ambassadors and leaders for civility who can inspire and teach others. Scott also manages the finances of the Civility Fund.

Scott’s work has been highly influenced by the work of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell. As a result, he embraces both the personal and mythological dimensions of the human experience. With regard to the psychology of the individual, Scott’s focus is on cultivating radical self-acceptance – the ability to meet every aspect of ourselves with the same kind of unconditional regard that healthy, loving parents have for all of their children.

He also sees built into the very nature of human existence the path of the mythological hero: Are we going to proceed in life in a half-asleep state, based on our programming and wounding since birth; or are we going to choose to awaken, face the dragons of fear and self-doubt, and embrace the destinies with which we were born?

In his work with the Alfie Scholars specifically, Scott incorporates these dimensions to help the scholars learn psychological tools for self-awareness, self-investigation and self-regulation, while at the same time, helping them to see their story as part of the larger, hero’s-journey story that has been with us throughout time – the path of becoming an authentic human being.

Scott received his Masters of Arts in Counseling from the Leadership Institute of Seattle in 1993.

Ricardo Ibarra, B.S.

Director of Marketing and Webmaster, Civility Center for Law

Ricardo Ibarra prides himself on crafting unique and compelling creative solutions for projects of all types. While earning his bachelor of science in biology at the University of Washington, Mr. Ibarra nurtured his love for creative work and honed an approach to design informed by his scientific background. Mr. Ibarra brings his decade of experience to the Civility Center by designing and delivering compelling print and digital messaging and media across multiple platforms.

William Galloway, J.D.

Editor and Administrator, Civility Center for Law

Bill Galloway is a cum laude graduate of the University of Washington School of Law, where he was Managing Editor of the Washington Law Review. He earned his B.A., cum laude, in English literature from Williams College. After clerking at the Washington Court of Appeals, he worked as a consultant in Seattle before joining the faculty at Seattle University School of Law as a Legal Writing Professor for three years. Since 2003, Bill has lived on the west coast of Ireland, where he has worked in organic aquaculture, as a web designer, and as a musician.

Michael Djordjevich, CPA

Michael Djordjevich, Director and Accountant for the Civility Center for Law; Owner, Michael Djordjevich, CPA.

Michael Djordjevich graduated from the University of Southern California School of Business in 1976. He has been practicing public accounting as a CPA since then. Michael’s experiences range in a variety of industries: real estate, financial services, health care (many of which were not-for-profit hospitals), construction, and professional. As a business owner, developer, investor and concerned citizen Michael brings a unique perspective to the Civility Center for Law.