The Citadel School of Engineering professor continues leading in her field

A woman who began making her mark in the engineering industry almost as soon as she joined The Citadel in 2013, Mary K. Watson, Ph.D., is now the 2022 recipient of the Civil Engineer Educator of the Year Award. The award comes from the South Carolina Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). It will be presented June 10 at the S.C. Engineering and Trade Show.

Watson is an associate professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering with The Citadel School of Engineering. She was nominated for the award by the Jeff Davis, Ph.D., head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The Citadel.

Dr. Watson is performing at the very highest level of scholarly achievement and contributing immensely to the success of the Department and School of Engineering. Furthermore, her work has far-reaching regional, national and international impact in advancing engineering educational practice and engineering student development.

Jeff Davis, Ph.D., P.E., The Citadel School of Engineering

Watson has earned more than $1 million in grant funding, supported by the National Science Foundation. She leads the college’s environmental and water resources curriculum and serves as the primary academic advisor for about 40 students in the School of Engineering College Transfer Program (CTP).

Dr. Watson, thank you profoundly for caring as you do for every student’s individual development, not just as an academic, but as an engineer, leader and person.

CTP Civil Engineering Class of 2020 graduate

Watson was also recently included in a new cohort of Outstanding Young Alumni, by Clemson University’s College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences. In addition to her new accolades, Watson has earned numerous others, some of which include:

• Excellence in Research Award, The Citadel Provost, 2022
• New Faculty Research Award, SE Section, American Society for Engineering Education, 2019
• Outstanding Paper, 9th Conf. on Engineering Education for Sustainable Development, 2018
• Best Paper Award, Multidisciplinary Division, Am. Society for Engineering Education, 2017
• Seeley Award, Civil Engineering Division, American Society for Engineering Education, 2017
• Best Instructional Paper, SE Section, American Society for Engineering Education, 2017, 2012
• Young Civil Engineer of the Year, South Carolina Section, ASCE, 2016
• New Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, Committee on Faculty Development, ASCE, 2016
• Outstanding New Teaching Award, SE Section, American Society for Engineering Education, 2015
• Best Paper Award, New Engineering Educators Div., Am. Society for Engineering Education, 2015

As seen on Clemson.edu

Six honored by College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences

Some of the most outstanding alumni and one faculty emeritus from Clemson University’s largest college gathered in downtown Greenville on Thursday to welcome three of their own into the Thomas Green Clemson Academy of Engineers and Scientists and to honor three others as Outstanding Young Alumni.

Induction to the academy is the highest honor bestowed by Clemson’s College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences. The honor recognizes alumni and special friends who have made major contributions to their professions and have brought significant distinction to the college and university.

The new members are Rebecca Copenhaver DeLegge, Craig Fallon and Robert Fjeld.

The newest crop of Outstanding Young Alumni are Diana Chen, Adam Kirn and Mary Katherine Watson. The award goes to graduates of the college who are 40 years old or younger and whose achievements have been significant to their profession or to the welfare of society.

Anand Gramopadhye, the college’s dean, thanked the night’s honorees and said each is leaving his or her unique mark on the world.

“We will always cherish the fact that your Clemson education may have had a small role to play in your success,” he said. “To paraphrase the Dalai Lama, we hope we have given you wings to fly, roots to come back and reasons to give.”

Mary Katherine Watson: Watson holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in biosystems engineering from Clemson. As an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at The Citadel, she has been recognized for her teaching excellence and her prowess as a researcher, developing scholarly contributions to the field of engineering education. Supported by the National Science Foundation, Watson is building regional and national programs for supporting advancement of diverse faculty and students in STEM fields.

Clemson.edu

Read the full announcement, WITH INFORMATION ON THE OTHER OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI, here.