Watkins named Lead Faculty Member Columbia College-Lake of the Ozarks

Columbia College-Lake of the Ozarks

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Dr. Shirley Watkins, professor of psychology at Columbia College – Lake of the Ozarks, has been named the Lead Faculty Member for the campus. Dr. Watkins, who has taught at Columbia College since 1998, is the first faculty member from the Lake Campus to be named to the post.

“Dr. Watkins is an invaluable member of our faculty and her student-centered focus is evident every time she walks in the classroom,” Dr. John Keeney, director of CC-LOTO said. “We are fortunate to have a psychologist, instructor and person of her caliber as a member of our faculty and we are proud to call her an alumna of our campus as well.”

As Lead Faculty Member, Dr. Watkins will assist with reviewing all class syllabi, coordinate peer faculty evaluations and monitor the quality and accessibility of campus technology available to students and faculty among several other duties.

“Columbia College – Lake of the Ozarks is a home away from home to me. I consider the faculty, staff, students and alumni my extended family,” Watkins said. “I am honored to be named to this post and look forward to helping our amazing faculty members continue to provide quality education to our students.”

Dr. Watkins has been widely regarded as one of the most engaging and popular faculty members amongst students and other colleagues since she began teaching at CC-LOTO in 1998. She has dedicated her life and career to the field of psychology and making sure that her students are prepared for the next step in their life after they earn their degree.

One of her recent students expressed their gratitude by saying, “ … [Thank you], Dr. Watkins, for being able to come in after your hip surgery (last spring) and spend your time to teach me and the rest of the students what you love and live your life doing. Thank you for giving us a piece of your life, and joy, every Monday and Wednesday. I am truly grateful.”

Dr. Watkins is invested in the Lake of the Ozarks community as a practicing clinical psychologist in Versailles at Adelman & Associates. She earned her bachelor’s degree in both psychology and business administration in 1998 from the Lake campus and in 2002, earned her doctorate in clinical phycology from Forest Institute.

Dr. Watkins is a member of several professional associations including the American Psychological Association, the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development and the Missouri Psychological Association. She graduated summa cum laude from Columbia College in 1996 and was honored as a distinguished graduate by Webster University in 1998. She was also a finalist for the William T. Kemper Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2011.