Dr. Karan Watson — ABET President

Reception Address/Keynote Introduction

Join ABET President Karan Watson during Friday evening's reception as she draws conclusions about the Symposium's first day, speaks to the urgent need to close the gap between generations of technical professionals, and introduces this year's ABET Symposium Keynote Speaker, Dr. Mike North. 

 

Biography

Karan L. Watson, Ph.D., P.E., is Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Texas A&M University. Previously, she served as Vice Provost and as Dean of Faculties and Associate Provost. She joined the faculty of Texas A&M University in 1983 and is currently a Regents Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

Before assuming the position of Dean of Faculties and Associate Provost, Watson served as the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the Dwight Look College of Engineering. She also served the Look College as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and as a member of the Faculty Senate. She was Interim Vice President and Associate Provost for Diversity from November 2005 to September 2006, a role that she again held from December 2008 until July 2009.

Watson is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). Her awards and recognitions include the U.S. President's Award for Mentoring Minorities and Women in Science and Technology, the American Association for the Advancement of Science Mentoring Award, the IEEE International Undergraduate Teaching Award, the College of Engineering Crawford Teaching Award, and two university-level Distinguished Achievement Awards from The Texas A&M University Association of Former Students — one in Student Relations in 1992 and one in Administration in 2010.

Watson has chaired the graduate committees of 34 doctoral students and more than 60 master's degree students. In 2003–2004, she served as a Senior Fellow of the National Academy of Engineering Center for the Advancement of Scholarship in Engineering Education.

Watson has been involved with ABET since 1991, beginning as a program evaluator and later becoming a commissioner. She has been on the ABET Board of Directors since 2006, first as the Director representing ASEE, then President-Elect, and now President.