About: Dr. Kathryn Watson serves as the Assistant Director of Research & Evaluation for Appalachian State University’s GEAR UP program, a federal initiative dedicated to increasing college access and success for students in Western North Carolina. She brings over a decade of experience in education, including teaching roles in Iredell and Gaston County Schools in North Carolina, as well as leadership and research positions across the country.
Education: Dr. Watson earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Research, and Policy from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, where her scholarship focused on expanding educational equity and opportunity. Prior to that, she contributed to several large-scale research projects at the University of Iowa, including initiatives supporting school-based mental health, underrepresented student achievement, and college access.
Passionate about increasing educational access for historically underserved communities, Dr. Watson blends her K-12 teaching experience with rigorous research to inform effective, data-driven programming. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the Appalachian Mountains and tending to her garden.
