JOHNSON CITY – East Tennessee State University’s Dr. Elwood Watson, professor of history, Black American Studies and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies whose writings and presentations have reached a wide audience, has been selected as the new vice president for Diversity, Outreach and Inclusion with The Popular Culture Association (PCA).
Dr. Sue Matheson, president of the association and a professor at University College
of the North, said: “We are pleased that Dr. Watson has accepted our request to serve
in this most important position. The Governing Board is confident that Dr. Watson’s
long record of service to the PCA, his dedication to our organization, his major contributions
to the field, his wide experience with diversity issues and his stellar and outstanding
scholarly academic achievements will be a tremendous asset.”
He will have many responsibilities in this new role, including crafting plans for
conference programming and organizing training sessions.
Watson, who earned a Ph.D. in history from the University of Maine, has published
on a wide array of topics in book chapters and journal articles and delivered many
conference presentations.
He recently authored an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, one of the premiere
publications for colleges and universities, aimed at helping faculty of color navigate a tenure-track career.
His most recent book, “Talkin’ to You, Bro!: Liberate your mind from the confusing, ambiguous messages of
contemporary masculinity,” deals with questions about masculinity.
Watson has taught at ETSU since 1997.