The second of a two-part series about Dr. Alice Watkins, former Dean at Azusa Pacific University
Upon her retirement in 1995 as Associate Dean of the School of Education at California State University, Los Angeles, Dr. Alice Watkins received a call from the President of Azusa Pacific University (APU), Dr. Richard Felix. Dr. Felix offered her the position of Dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Studies. Accepting his offer, Dr. Watkins recalled, "I wanted to make a difference in the lives of faculty members and students. The biggest goal I faced when starting at APU was building community." Her vision for accomplishing this included seeking accreditation for all departments, increasing research and diversifying the faculty and students under her deanship. Although the initial reaction to her approach was mixed, ("Some were shocked," she laughs), detractors changed their opinion when they realized she was a solid leader, a team player and a gifted administrator.
When she began her deanship, Dr. Watkins stressed the importance of accreditation for all departments. "I knew we had one of the finest teaching programs around, but we needed national accreditation in order to prove this to the academic community and potential students." To achieve this, she worked closely with the chairs and faculty members of each department. Within four years, the School of Education applied for accreditation and was accepted. Graduate Psychology and Athletic Training followed and within a few years, all professional programs in her department had completed the accreditation process. "Faculty members began to see themselves in a more positive light," reflects Alice.
According to Dr. Watkins, "Teaching should be informed by research and teachers should reflect the academic community in which they serve." She worked hard to instill in faculty members the importance of cond
ucting research in addition to teaching. As a result, new articles from the APU teaching community were published to reputable journals almost daily. "It was a big boost to our department," Alice says, "and the competitive fires burned from that point on!"
One of Dr. Watkins' greatest contributions to APU was in the area of diversity. Because of her efforts to enroll students and hire faculty of differing ethnic backgrounds, the university saw increases in African American, Latino and Asian populations. She notes, "Younger faculty members came on board, which added a vibrant feel to the university." Her former colleagues at Cal State LA sent new PhD staff, many of whom were attracted by the upbeat spiritual message of the university. By the time she retired from APU, the university boasted increased attendance and a department with a sizable profit margin. She achieved every goal she had set for the department and was given the distinguished honor of Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. Numerous scholarly awards, such as the Alice V. Watkins Imago Dei Ethos Award, continue in her name. "It was a wonderful seven years," she states. Those who had the privilege of working with her certainly would agree.
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