Olive-Harvey College’s Dr. Khalilah T. Watson Selected for Prestigious Rutgers Writing Retreat

Olive-Harvey College’s associate professor Dr. Khalilah T. Watson was accepted into the second cohort of Rutgers University’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity, and Justice’s Proctor Writing and Relaxation Retreat. The highly selective, invitation-only program provided Dr. Watson with the opportunity to participant in an immersive space to strengthen her writing, connect with other academics, and learn from publishing professionals.

Dr. Watson holds a Ph.D. with specializations in 20th-century African American fiction, literary theory, and the works of Toni Morrison, whom she proudly names as her professional and creative muse. Her scholarship includes two publications on Morrison’s work, featured in Critical Insights: Beloved (2015) and Critical Responses about the Black Family in Toni Morrison’s God Help the Child: Conflicts in Comradeship (2020). Dr. Watson is also a lifetime member and recording secretary of the Toni Morrison Society and is involved with several professional organizations, including the August Wilson Society and the International Writing Across the Curriculum Network.

At Olive-Harvey College, Dr. Watson also serves as a Local Tenure Assistance Program (TAP) Leader, guiding faculty colleagues through the tenure process, and contributes to several campus-wide committees focused on student and faculty success.

Dr. Watson’s selection for Rutgers University’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity, and Justice’s Proctor Writing and Relaxation Retreat is a testament to her scholarship, leadership, and dedication to the literary community. Olive-Harvey College is proud to celebrate this milestone and looks forward to the new ideas, writing, and inspiration she will bring back to campus.