Clifton E. Watts Jr., PhD

Dr. Clifton E. Watts Jr. (Clif) 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.  Clif 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. 

 

Clif is currently Chair of the Department of Recreation Sciences and Sport Management. The department offers a BS in Recreation, Park, and Sport Management, a BS in Recreational Therapy, and an MS in Recreation Sciences and Sport Management with concentrations in Recreation Management, Recreational Therapy Administration, and Sport Management.

 

Clif is a member of the The Academy of Leisure Sciences, the North Carolina Recreation and Park Association, and a council member for the National Environment and Recreation Research Association. In his leisure, Clif enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, fishing, grilling, and playing guitar.