Nancy L. Watterson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Social Justice
"I feel Cabrini is full of possibilities and is a place open to meaningful collaboration," Dr. Nancy L. Watterson says.
Watterson was drawn to Cabrini College in 2006 as a result of her desire to connect with students, encourage them to work to their full potential, and discover common interests.
"I value highly the potential to work with others actively engaged in critical and compassionate pedagogy, striving to develop Cabrini students' intellectual curiosities and their abilities to undertake informed research," Watterson says.
Since Watterson's arrival at Cabrini, she has employed an interdisciplinary approach to teaching, revolving around a holistic, reflexive foundation, which she says leads to valuing and maintaining friendships. By working toward active engagement, from initial exploration of ideas to empowering students to apply themselves to critical advocacy, Watterson's students are slated to become informed citizens in local and global communities.
"Such a worldview offers an ideal way to enact my commitment to stewardship: not only to documenting but also to understanding the diversity of everyday life—past and present, responsibly and respectfully—and, ultimately, of bearing witness to social injustices in an attempt to effect social change," Watterson says of her instructional philosophy.
Watterson recognizes that service-learning is a valuable complement to a liberal arts education, and recently helped 75 students address a community-based need by serving as mentors and role models for middle and high school students from the Norristown area as part of Cabrini's Norristown Partnership. She also participated in the Cabrini Faculty Solidarity Trip in June 2007 to the United States/Mexico border near El Paso, Texas where she witnessed firsthand what it is like to cross the border into the U.S. from Mexico. The trip aimed to raise awareness and educate about current immigration issues, a topic that recently has garnered much media attention.
Watterson earned a B.A. in English from Oakland University, an M.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in Folklore and Folklife from the University of Pennsylvania.
Watterson is from Kentwood, Mi., and still identifies as a "Midwesterner at heart," even though she now lives in West Philadelphia. She loves spending time with her two godchildren, who live in Philadelphia, and remains close to her siblings, who reside in Michigan and Minnesota. Dr. Watterson describes herself as a voracious reader who enjoys works across many disciplines and genres. Traveling the world also ranks high on her list of favorite pastimes.
Contact information:
Dr. Nancy L. Watterson
Assistant Professor, Social Justice
Grace Hall, Room 233
610-902-8402
nancy.l.watterson@cabrini.edu