Alumni Spotlight: Denita Wright Watson, class of 1993

MEDIA, Pa. — Almost 20 years after completing her bachelor’s degree at Penn State, alumna Denita Wright Watson, class of 1993, returned to the University as a staff member.

Watson began her Penn State journey at Brandywine, majoring in administration of justice. After two years, she transitioned to University Park where she completed her bachelor of arts degree. In 2014, she returned to Penn State to earn her master’s degree in leadership development at Great Valley.

Watson was first introduced to Brandywine through a pre-college program the University was holding at the time.

“I first came to Brandywine — then called Delaware County — as a sophomore in high school through a pre-college program,” Watson said. “I enjoyed it so much that I participated in it again my junior year of high school, and I started college here once I graduated high school.”

During her time at Brandywine, Watson was part of the Black Student League and served as the organization’s treasurer. Once at University Park, she joined the Black Student Union and an on-campus gospel choir.

“While I was at Brandywine, I really enjoyed the social aspect the most,” Watson said. “I made so many valuable connections with people on campus, especially from being involved.”

“I had what I called my Penn State 'moms' who always looked out for me and other students,” Watson recalled. “They just kept tabs on us, so I formed a bond with them. I’m actually still close with one in particular: Carolyn Boswell. We text and call each other often.”

Upon graduating, Watson began working in the education and social services fields. She’s been a school social services worker at a juvenile residential facility, a school disciplinarian and an education coordinator.

“I was an education coordinator for a federal TRIO program, where I worked with middle school and high school students in the Chester Upland School District and taught them about higher education,” Watson said. “I took students on college tours and cultural trips to show them that there’s life outside what they see every day.”

She worked for the TRIO program until August 2011, when the funding wasn’t renewed. Finding herself unemployed, she returned to Penn State as a staff member. She was an engineering program manager at Penn State Great Valley for eight years, where she recruited and advised prospective engineering graduate students.

Today, Watson serves as the associate director of equity, inclusion and advocacy for student affairs at Penn State World Campus. In her role, she supports students in need and identifies what they need to help them be successful. Currently, she’s providing support and communicating with students who were impacted by the earthquake in Turkey.

Watson is very active still at Brandywine. She participates in alumni and student networking events, and she will be emceeing the career closet fashion show, hosted by the Center for Social Impact and career services, on Feb. 15.

When asked what advice she would give to current Brandywine students, Watson said they should look for opportunities to shadow, connect and build relationships with people in the Brandywine community, especially alumni. She wants students to take advantage of the programs career services offers, connecting students to alumni.

“I would say nine times out of 10, the alumni students reach out to are going to be receptive and will want to work with them to see them succeed,” she said. “Penn State alumni are proud of the fact that we have such a great alumni association, so when students call on us, we answer.”