Karen Watson graduated in 1981 from West Virginia University with a Bachelor’s degree in Family Resources, She went on to serve as a WVU Cooperative Extension Home Economist for five years. She moved to Blacksburg in 1986 to pursue her master’s degree at Virginia Tech in Clothing and Textiles and graduated in 1998. While pursuing her Ph.D. in Clothing and Textiles she served as a graduate assistant in several different roles. She was also an adjunct instructor at New River Community College where she taught Fashion Merchandising and Advertising.

In August of 1996, she was hired as an academic advisor by the College of Human Resources and Education working with the associate dean for undergraduate affairs providing support to students and academic advisors in the College. That role in the college transitioned into several positions including Coordinator of Academic Advising. She earned her Ph.D. in 1999. She currently serves as the Senior Director of Academic Support in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

As the Senior Director, she is responsible for all things academic advising and academic support for undergraduates in the College. Her responsibilities also included teaching a first-year experience class and advising the Undecided Pre-Education, and the Undecided Liberal Arts majors. In 2006 she was awarded the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Academic Advising. From 2015 to 2019 she was the Virginia Liaison for NACADA the Global Community for Academic Advising Region 2 Steering Committee. Currently, she is implementing a College plan to move the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences into a centralized academic advising center.