Clifton E. Watts Jr., PhD
Associate Professor
Degree Director, Master of Science in Recreation Sciences
Department of Recreation Sciences
College of Health & Human Performance
East Carolina University
Specialty: Youth Development in Out-of-School Time; Community-based Wellness; Family leisure;
Dr. Clifton E. Watts Jr. performs research and evaluation on community-based programs for families and youth. These include intervention initiatives to prevent school dropout, promote school engagement, and support health and wellness promotion. Dr. Watts has worked closely with communities in eastern NC to fund, implement, and evaluate these projects. He has supervised student theses that examine processes impacting participation, engagement, and positive outcomes in program participants. These applied projects offer field-based research experiences for students, and provide a unique setting to relate material learned through classes.
Dr. Watts is currently the Graduate Director for the Master of Science in Recreation Sciences. Here is a flyer describing the program, and the graduate student handbook for your reference if interested.
Dr. Watts is a member of the The Academy of Leisure Sciences, National Recreation and Park Association, the North Carolina Recreation and Park Association, and a council member for the National Environment and Recreation Research Association. In his leisure, Dr. Watts enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, coaching youth sports, and playing guitar.