Dr. Michelle Watts is a humanities educator who is committed to using humanist literature to bring diverse groups of people together to find common ground. Over the years, Dr. Watts has taught a full range of students – from Kindergarten to graduate school- and delights in her students’ achievements and efforts to effect substantive change in the world around them.

She is a native Houstonian who was raised in a family committed to serving the community. Her first volunteer venture was to raise funds for “Jerry’s Kids,’ as part of the Labor Day Muscular. Dystrophy Telethon. Even though she was only able to raise a hundred dollars, the memories of knocking on doors and asking for support for a cause she believed in was her first step in a long line of community work.

Michelle has come a long way since that day in September, but the one constant in her life and work, has been an unyielding commitment to working in solidarity with marginalized communities.

Her interest in this work lead her to Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA, where she received a Bachelor’s of Arts in English and Politics. Upon graduation, Michelle returned to Houston to study American Literature and Culture at Rice University, where she earned both a Master’s and Doctorate. While pursuing her graduate degrees, Michelle received the Erskine Peters Fellowship from the University of Notre Dame, which supported her work and also prepared her for Midwest winters. She went on to teach at Miami University in Oxford, OH and the University of Cincinnati. While at Miami, she was recognized as an Honored Professor for her ‘remarkable commitment to students.’

She has extensive experience in the public sector where she has worked to advance educational equity and social justice causes in youth-serving organizations. She is thrilled to be at the helm of Galveston Housing Plus!

Christie Schumate, Steve Conner, Dr. Kathleen Murphy, Holly Hopkins, Thomas Stephens, Keith Bassett, Dr. Carol Bakken, Caroline Gienger, Dr. Dawn McCarty