Excellence in Teaching Award Goes to Justin Watson, PhD

Holy Cross College honored Justin Watson, PhD with its annual Excellence in Teaching Award.  The award is given each year to the faculty member who draws the most votes from students, faculty, and staff.  Watson was recognized at the Honors Convocation on March 27. The event also honored the students who have made the dean’s list and included Br. George Kloughton as a featured speaker.

Watson’s student nominations stated that his classes were always enjoyable due to his patience, passion, high academic standards, and unwavering positive attitude. The students found his courses a valuable learning experience that combined the abstract course material with real world, contemporary applications. His colleagues’ nominations described Watson as compassionate, respectful, helpful, and mission driven.

After receiving his BA in political science from the University of Nevada, Watson earned two MAs in literature and rhetoric and composition from the University of Eastern Washington. He also earned a PhD in English from the University of Notre Dame. Watson has been teaching at the College for twelve years and has taught a wide range of literature and English courses as well as some inter-disciplinary classes. Recently, Watson was promoted to the post of Dean of Faculty.