“USC is a wonderful place and we're really trying to make an impact on the state of South Carolina and the world. Our support as faculty and staff can make a difference.”
What is your current role at USC and what do you enjoy most about your work?
I am the Associate Director and Director of Distributed Learning and Innovation at the Center for Teaching Excellence. I started my USC career at the Darla Moore School of Business back in 2007 as an instructional technology manager, and I transitioned to the Center for Teaching Excellence in 2011. I work with faculty in Columbia as well as the Palmetto College campuses. I've been working with faculty here since I started in 2007 - helping them to incorporate technology in their courses and helping them to create high-quality and engaging courses. Faculty members are just awesome. I enjoy working together with my colleagues to create programs and resources to increase the quality of courses leading to higher student success.
Were you a student at USC?
I'm just Carolina through and through. I graduated from USC with my bachelor’s degree in 2004 and my major was integrated information technology, which was previously in the College of HRSM. I earned my master’s in educational technology in 2006, and then received my doctorate in curriculum and instruction in 2012. I had a great experience as a student. I was a student in TRiO programs the Opportunity Scholars program as well as the Ronald E. McNair Post baccalaureate program. I remember being so excited to be offered a job at the Darla Moore School of Business because I wanted to work for the institution that had given so much to me as a student.
What is your favorite USC memory?
While in school, I had a great opportunity to be a reading tutor for a local elementary school and a lunch buddy. Doing those things gave me more experience in seeing why giving back to my community and helping others was important. In TRiO Programs, the Ronald E McNair program, we did a lot of community outreach for our research. I had the opportunity to engage with many different people in the community. Those experiences and working in the community shaped who I am now.
What awards or accomplishments are you most proud of?
I decided that I wanted to give back to TRiO Programs - they had given so much to me. I established my first endowed scholarship right after I finished my doctoral program around 12 years ago. To raise funds, I had a March Madness challenge every year. One of my high school classmates saw my post on Facebook and matched the funds. With that endowed scholarship, my goal was $5,000 per year, so I saved $417 per month for the scholarship, to ensure that I was able to get $25,000 over 5 years. I was able to meet the goal in four years because of the generosity of my high school classmate. That scholarship assists rising seniors in TRiO programs at USC who have shown outstanding university or community service. I was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Award in 2020 centered around my work with the community and creating a scholarship.
What keeps you busy outside of work?
I'm a person who stutters and the co-chapter leader of the Columbia Chapter of the National Stuttering Association. I’m also on the Board of Directors of Family Promise of the Midlands. We provide support for families experiencing homelessness. I've been attending USC football games since 2000 when I was a freshman at USC and I still go today. I've missed less than 10 football games throughout the past 25 years. I am also a huge women’s basketball fan. I’ve been attending games since 2000. I attend all home games, some away games, and I have attended 4 final fours. I have a YouTube channel, so I'm working on continuously building that and creating videos. I also love to travel and my next trip is to Turkey, so I'm super excited about that.
Is there a particular program, department, or initiative at USC that holds special meaning for you? Why do you believe it's important to support?
I love giving back during Give4Garnet, and supporting the TRiO Programs is especially meaningful to me. As a former USC student, I know firsthand the impact of these programs in providing extra support for first-generation and low-income college students. I've committed to supporting all four Palmetto College campuses. Two years ago for Give4Garnet, I created the Dr. Aisha S. Haynes Opportunity Endowed Scholarship Fund for Inspiring Excellence at USC Sumter. Last year during Give4Garnet, I supported the USC Lancaster student food pantry and this year I'll be supporting the USC Union Student food pantry. During Give4Garnet and homecoming, I also like to support fundraising goals for scholarships for the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management (HRSM) where I earned my undergrad degree. I also contribute to my first endowed scholarship fund – the Dr. Aisha S. Haynes Endowed Scholarship Fund for TRiO Programs.
USC is a wonderful place and we're really trying to make an impact on the state of South Carolina and the world. Our support as faculty and staff can make a difference.
Are you a USC employee who wants to share why you give back? Email WattsAC@mailbox.sc.edu