Sherry K. Watt
Introduction
Sherry K. Watt has been a professor in the Higher Education and Student Affairs program at the University of Iowa since 2000. She is an educator trained in the areas of counseling, psychology, and human development. Prior to becoming a faculty member, she worked as a residence life director and a career counselor at both of her alma maters and Shaw University. Sherry is a facilitator prepared by the Center for Courage & Renewal. She is the co-editor The Theory of Being: Practices for Transforming Self and Communities across Difference (May 2022). She has over 30 years of experience in, researching, designing and leading educational experiences that involve strategies to engage participants in dialogue that is meaningful, passionate, and self-awakening. Dr. Watt and her research team are working together on research and practice that support ‘ways of being’ in difficult dialogues that inspires thoughtful and humanizing action.
Current Positions
- Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs
- Director, Being Research Collaborative (BRC)
College of Education Affiliations
Education
- PhD in Counselor Education, North Carolina State University
- MS in Counselor Education-Student Affairs Track, North Carolina State University
- BA in Communication Studies, Concentration: Public Relations, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Selected Awards & Honors
- Regents Award for Faculty Excellence, 2022
- Student Supervisor of the Year Award - Certificate of Distinction, UI Pomerantz Career Center, 2021
- Marion L. Huit Faculty Award, University of Iowa Vice President of Student Affairs, 2020
- ACPA Senior Scholar Diplomate (Current), ACPA College Student Educators International, 2019
- Senior Scholar (serving 2014-2019), American College Personnel Association, 2014
- Collegiate Teaching Award, College of Education, University of Iowa, 2014
- Diamond Honoree, American College Personnel Association Foundation, 2014
- Collegiate Teaching Award, College of Education, University of Iowa, 2006
- Annuit Coeptis Award Recipient for Emerging Professionals, American College Personnel Association, 1998
Professional Memberships
- American Educational Researchers Association
- ACPA College Student Educators International
Selected Publications
- Watt, S. K., Mahatmya, D., Mohebali, M. & Martin-Stanley II, C. (Eds.) (August, 2022). The Theory of Being: Practices for Transforming Self and Communities across Difference. Stylus Publishing.
- Mohebali, M., Louie, G., Weaver, K. E., & Watt, S. K. (2021). Engaging head, heart, and hands toward Freirean praxis: Process-oriented research in the age of evidence-based outcomes. In R. Lake, E. Stein, & T. Kress (Eds.), Radically dreaming: Illuminating Freirean praxis in turbulent times. DOI Press.
- Watt, S. K. (2020). Q&A: Engaging in Difficult Dialogues. Coralville: Center for Teaching.
- Watt, S. K. (2020). The Oar. ACPA College Student International.
- Watt, S. K. & Louie, G. (2020). Book Review: Beyond Access: Indigenizing Programs for Native American Student Success ed. by Stephanie J. Waterman, Shelly C. Lowe, and Heather Shotton. [Review of the Book Beyond Access: Indigenizing Programs for Native American Student Success, By Stephanie J. Waterman, Shelly C. Lowe, and Heather Shotton.] Journal of College Student Development 61 (2) 257-260.
- Watt, S. K. (2020). Being with Snow in April. Coralville: The Center for Courage and Renewal.
- Goodman, K. M., Watt, S. K. & Siefert, T. A. (2019). Models for Courses Focused on Spirituality, Religion, and Secularity in Student Affairs Preparation Programs. In Goodman, K. M., Giess, M. E. & Patel, E. (Eds.) Educating about Religious Diversity and Interfaith Engagement: A Handbook for Student Affairs. Alexandria, VA: Stylus.
- Watt, S. K., McCloud, L., Malvaso, S. & Martin-Stanley, II, C. (2019). Classroom Hostilities. In Pope, R., Reynolds, A. & Mueller, J. (Eds.) Multicultural Competence in Student Affairs: Advancing Social Justice and Inclusion. pp. 307-309. John Wiley & Sons.
- Surratt, M., Watt, S. K., & (2017). NASPA Podcast on Leadership & Inclusion. In NASPA Leadership Podcast. NASPA Student Affairs Leadership Programs.
- Watt, S. K. (2016). The Practice of Freedom: Leading Through Controversy. In New Directions for Student Leadership: Developing Culturally Relevant Leadership Learning. (153), pp. 35-46. San Francisco, CA/Jossey Bass: Wiley: New Directions for Student Leadership. DOI: DOI: 10.1002/yd.20207.
Selected Presentations
- Watt, S. K., Garvey, J., Hernandez, E. & Torres, V. (2021, April) ACPA2GO: Writing for JCSD. Symposium
- Watt, S. K. & Livingston, B. A. (2020, February) Difficult Dialogues: Ways to Stay in When You Want to Get Out. Keynote/Plenary Address presented at 12th Annual University of Iowa Women’s Symposium, Coralville.
- Watt, S. K., Louie, G. & Mohebali, M. (2019, October) Difficult Dialogues: Ways to stay in when you want get out. Seminar presented at Iowa Student Personnel Association 2019, Iowa City, Iowa.
- Mahatmya, D., Mohebali, M. & Watt, S. K. (2019, July) Being in Dialogue with Difference and Resistance. Conference Presentation presented at Captivate Conference, Coralville.
- Gansemer-Topf, A., Watt, S., Anson, M., Schmid, D. & Levine, H. (2018, October) Student Affairs Faculty Feature Panel. Keynote/Plenary Address presented at Iowa Student Personnel Association 2018, Independence, Iowa.
- Watt, S. K., Poullard, J., Robbins, C. K., Arminio, J., Lange, A. C. & Porter, C. J. (2018, March) Intergenerational Dialogue on Activism and Social Action : A Conversation. Conference Presentation presented at ACPA 2018 International Convention, Houston, Texas.
- Pasquesi, K. L., McCloud, L., Watt, S. K. & Mollet, A. (2017, March) Multicultural Initiatives Reconsidered: Are you programming for survival or inclusion?. Conference Presentation presented at ACPA 2017 International Convention, Columbus, Ohio.
- Fenner, J., Coleman, B. & Watt, S. K. (2016, October) Explorations of Race: Living a Life Undivided. Workshop Chicago, Illinois.
- Watt, S. K. (2016, October) Engaging Across Difference: Important Skills for Effective Revolutionary Change. Keynote/Plenary Address presented at ACPA Midwest Conference, Kansas City, Missouri.
- Granberry-Russel, P., Watt, S. K., Velasquez, D. & Obear, K. (2015, May) Designing Transformative Multicultural Initiatives: Theoretical Foundations, Practical Applications and Facilitator Considerations. Workshop presented at National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education, Washington, DC., Washington, District of Columbia.
Selected Grants & Contracts
- Watt, Sherry Kay (Principal Investigator) Grant Research/Creative Work (Applied or Basic). Development of an Instrument to Measure Privileged Identity Exploration. Iowa Measurement Research Foundation. Funded. May 1, 2015 - June 1, 2016.
- Watt, Sherry Kay (Principal Investigator) Grant Research/Creative Work. Exploring Facilitators’ Reactions to a Diversity Retreat Experience. Center for Courage and Renewal. Funded. November 1, 2009 - December 1, 2010.
- Watt, Sherry Kay (Principal Investigator) Grant Association of College and University Housing Officers International Grant Fund. Association of College and University Housing Officers International. Funded. April 1, 2002 - April 1, 2003.