Shirley Resident Elected to the Board of Mental Health Non-Profit

Dr. Jarvis M. Watson, Ed.D., of Shirley, has been elected to the board of the Association for Mental Health and Wellness, based in Ronkonkoma. He serves as the director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at School of Visual Arts in New York City. In that role, Dr. Watson leads the effort to build a more inclusive, equitable, and welcoming campus and college community.

He previously served as Assistant Dean for Student Support Services at Stony Brook University, as the school’s Interim Chief Diversity Officer, as Assistant Dean for Multicultural Affairs, as well as Senior Counselor/Assistant Director with the Education Opportunity Program.

Dr. Watson received his doctorate in Educational Administration, Leadership, and Technology from Dowling College in Oakdale. He earned a master‘s degree in Counselor Education from Kean University in Union, NJ, and his bachelor’s degree in English from Stony Brook University.

He is a member of the American Counseling Association, the American College Personnel Association, the National Association of School Personnel Administrators, and several other professional organizations.

A frequent public speaker, Dr. Watson has given keynote addresses and other presentations before more than 15 regional and national academic conferences and events. He also co-hosts two podcasts: The Rejected Stone Podcast and Trusted Voices of the Community.

With interests in music, sports, gardening, and science fiction, Dr. Jarvis Watson lives with his wife, Adesuwa I. Watson.