Bevlee Watford
Biography
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Engineering Education Ph.D., Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, Virginia Tech M.S., Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, Virginia Tech B.S., Mining Engineering, Virginia Tech |
Bevlee Watford, P.E. is Emeritus Professor of Engineering Education, Associate Dean for Equity and Engagement, and the Founding Executive Director of the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity for the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech.
Watford started her career as an assistant professor at Clemson University. She moved back to her alma matter in 1992 and became the founding Executive Director of the Center and an associate professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering. She earned her current rank of Professor of Engineering Education in 2005. From 2005 – 2007 and from 2013 – 2015 she joined the National Science Foundation in roles focused on education.
As Associate Dean for Equity and Engagement at Virginia Tech, Watford has secured more than $17 million for the Center for Enhancement of Engineering Diversity and other undergraduate initiatives. Her research focuses on the recruitment and retention of students in engineering, with a particular emphasis on under-represented students. Under her guidance, the center supports freshmen peer mentoring, a summer bridge for incoming freshman, and residential living-learning communities that house nearly 600 freshman engineering students.
Watford was the president of the Women in Engineering ProActive Network from 2004 – 2005 and received the Women in Engineering ProActive Network Founders Award in 2008 for her service and her efforts to increase the participation of women in the engineering profession. An active member of the American Society for Engineering Education since 1986, Watford has served the organization in several capacities. In 2010, she was elected as a Fellow of the organization and served as its president for the 2017-2018 year.
She is a member of the National Science Board’s class of 2022 – 2028.