Dr. Watson joined the Department of Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education in the fall of 2011 with over 20 years of experience in sports pedagogy. Prior to coming to UNLV, she began her academic career as faculty in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Utah, where she developed and directed U Move with the Starzz and YouthCity after-school and summer programs, which served underserved adolescent and refugee youth in the greater Salt Lake City area; YouthCity continues to serve the youth of the area today.

Her areas of expertise include mentoring and developing doctoral students, working with and in diverse organizations, and issues concerning preparing culturally responsive leaders in higher education. She has published numerous manuscripts and chapters in the areas of facilitation of personal and social responsibility through physical activity and is the lead author of the book, Using Physical Activity and Sport to Teach Personal and Social Responsibility (2013). In addition, she is co-editor of her second book (DIO Press), entitled, The History of Now: Urban Education, Alternative Routes to Licensure and the Oral Histories of Black and Latinx Educators. Dr. Watson’s research interest also focuses on campus climate as situated at Minority Serving Institutions, and recently published the manuscript, Perceptions of Student Affairs Administrators at an Emerging MSI in About Campus, Sage Publishers.

Dr. Watson maintains active work in seeking funding and to date, has secured over 9 million dollars to support youth programs, student scholarships, student emergency funding, and research. She has served in many leadership roles while at UNLV, including but not limited to Graduate Council Chair (2012-2014), founding Director of Supporting Our Students Emergency Fund (2018-2020), Associate Dean for Academic Programs for the College of Education (2016-2019), and most recently worked with colleagues at UNLV to develop and convene the first-ever Faculty Senate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and served as Chair from 2019- 2021. Dr. Watson is currently a professor in the Higher Education program.