On Friday, Feb. 6, Ron Watson’s Faculty Spotlight took place in the Maurer Link. With Qdoba catering in hand, students gathered around to hear Dean Watson’s journey to Beloit College.
Dean Watson grew up in Madison, Va. and stated that he “was rather charmed in his upbringing,” especially considering Madison’s proximity to Charlottesville, Va., notorious for various racist incidents such as institutional racism in their state university, destruction of Black neighborhoods throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and the infamous “Unite the Right” white supremacist rally in 2017 which resulted in numerous assaults.
A first-generation college student, Dean Watson reported that his educational journey began at Florida State University, which he avidly proclaimed his disdain for. “I’m sorry if anyone is from Florida, I can’t stand the place,” said Watson. He recounted a number of negative experiences in Florida, including the overt and violent racism he’d experienced. “Those things happened to me. I’m a normal dude, as far as dudes go.” Throughout the event, Watson was very open about these experiences. “I refuse to hold back because every one of these events made me who I am today.”
Watson’s passion for East Asian studies started in Florida, where he started to teach himself Japanese and later took a class in the subject. He transferred to the College of William and Mary, where he earned his B.A. in religious studies and Japanese studies. Later, he attended the University of New Mexico for a Ph.D. in political science. He also joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s partnership with the University of New Mexico to study Black infant mortality. “There is no more important thing than how people govern themselves,” said Watson in speaking of his passion for political science.
Dean Watson was brought to Beloit by a professor of health and society position. “I got here and I was like ‘oh, crap, I like this place’— and I’ve been here ever since,” said Watson. “Beloit is one of the only places in the US where I’ve felt comfortable. Provided circumstances don’t force my hand, I intend to stay here for the rest of my career.”
When questions opened to the group, a student asked Watson what classes he’d recommend students take. He spoke of how having the option to go into business for oneself was valuable, and that students should take classes that reflect this. “Working for other people sucks… Everyone should take some sort of entrepreneurship class,” Watson said. He also emphasized the value of having the power to not wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve, especially students striving for medical professions, saying “I do recommend students take PART [classes].”
Dean Watson’s philosophies surrounding teaching culminated as people polished off their Qdoba bowls. “I never stop teaching. I just don’t do it as often,” said Watson. “I have to do that because I have to have a balanced relationship with students.” As a professor, Dean Watson recalled being able to see students at their best and at their worst, whereas as the Dean of Students, he sees students at their worst more often than not. Teaching keeps the balance in his student relationships. “I strive for truth and fact, I do not hold any belief that cannot be sustained by evidence,” said Dean Watson. This guided him in teaching political science when students were asked to look at ongoing politics through objective lenses.
For additional information about Dean Ron Watson, consider reading Emma Laus’s 2025 article on roundtablebeloit.edu, published shortly after Watson’s arrival.
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