Picture of Karan Watson

Karan Watson

Executive Vice President For Academics & Provost

Texas A & M University

Karan L. Watson was named Interim Vice President and Associate Provost of Diversity in November, 2005. She also continues to serve as the Dean of Faculties and Associate Provost at Texas A&M University. She has served in this position since February 1, 2002.

Karan joined the faculty of Texas A&M University in 1983 as an Assistant Professor in the Electrical Engineering Department. She is also a Regents Professor of Electrical Engineering. Dr. Watson is a registered professional engineer and has been named a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the American Society of Engineering Educators (ASEE). She received the US President’s Award for Mentoring Minorities and Women is Science and Technology, The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) mentoring award, the IEEE International Undergraduate Teaching Award, the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Association of Former Students Award for Student relationships, the TAMU Provost’s Award for Diversity, the TAMU Women’s Week Award for Administrators, the College of Engineering Crawford Teaching Award, and was named a TAMU Regents Professor.

Dr. Watson has chaired the doctoral committees of 32 students and over 60 master degree students. In 2003/4 she served as a Senior Fellow of the National Academy of Engineers’ Center for the Advancement of Scholarship in Engineering Education, and since 1991 she has served as an accreditation evaluator and commissioner for engineering programs for ABET, both in the United States and Internationally.

A Frog Journey, and Other Stories of Wisdom and Leadership
Stories from Dr. Watson's Cherokee tradition presented at the PKAL LI Leadership Seminar at Trinity University in March of 2006.
Diversity Scenarios
Case Studies for STEM Faculty
Faculty should be advocates for diversity; administrators need to be convinced that diversity has intrinsic value and that it promotes intellectual excellence, broadens the total range of an institution’s experience, and stimulates the exchange of ideas. Diversity should be seen as a moral imperative, an aspect of social justice. These cases, adapted from actual situations, can serve as catalysts for dialogue about challenges facing academic leaders.