Joshua Watson
Joshua Watson joined the Searle Center as Assistant Director of Engaged Learning in April of 2024. Joshua is excited to develop resources and curriculum-based programs/workshops to promote pedagogical reflection, enhance self-efficacy, and inform iterative changes. Joshua earned bachelor’s degrees in history and biology from the University of Chicago, a master’s in business administration and history from Roosevelt University, and a doctorate in higher education leadership from National Louis University.
Prior to his work at the Searle Center, Joshua served as a high school business, history, and science teacher at urban and suburban school districts in Illinois. During his time as a high school instructor, Joshua assisted in the development of a teacher recruitment program at the University of St. Francis, which has yielded multiple scholarship recipients, who have worked in Joliet area high school and elementary school districts. Joshua also served as an adjunct instructor at various higher education institutions in Illinois, including City Colleges of Chicago, College of DuPage, Triton College, Grand Canyon University, Saint Xavier University, Southern New Hampshire University, and East-West University, with a focus on teacher education and humanities courses. In 2021, at Saint Xavier University, Joshua was a co-recipient of the Adjunct Instructor of the Year Award for the Education Department. Through his work in teacher preparation courses, Joshua has developed an appreciation for the impact that instructors can have on the personal and academic growth of students.
Joshua scholarly interests focus on helping instructors create an alignment between course design, assessment and student-centered instruction.
Joshua is committed to the development and refinement of foundational pedagogical strategies to meet the evolving academic needs of students.