Nyeema Watson

Nyeema C. Watson is the Senior Vice Chancellor for Institutional Strategy and Engagement at Rutgers University–Camden, where she leads institution-wide efforts to ensure that civic and community engagement and campus culture are aligned with Rutgers’ public mission. She is a nationally recognized leader in higher education, cited frequently for her work in advancing civic and community engagement, developing anchor institution strategies, and creating pathways that expand access and opportunity for students and communities.

Throughout her career, Dr. Watson has played a central role in strengthening Rutgers–Camden’s engagement with the city of Camden and the broader southern New Jersey region, building collaborative partnerships that connect university resources to community-identified needs. She has successfully raised more than $17 million to support civic and community engagement initiatives and has led efforts that resulted in national recognition for the university’s commitment to community engagement. Dr. Watson has been instrumental in conceptualizing and launching institutional strategies that integrate civic learning, community engagement, campus culture, and belonging to support student academic and personal success.

The Division of Inclusion and Community Engagement (DICE) focuses on ensuring that Rutgers—Camden is welcoming community, where belonging is a core focus of campus culture, and on engaged civic learning, volunteerism and service, community-based research, and integrated partnerships focused on addressing local issues. Under her leadership in this area, Rutgers University–Camden has become a national leader in the field of civic engagement by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching with the university receiving the Community Engagement Classification, as well as honors from the Washington Center and New York Life Foundation and the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

A frequent national and international speaker, Dr. Watson’s work focuses on the role of higher education as an anchor institution, the advancement of civic learning and democratic engagement, and strategies for aligning institutional priorities with community impact. Her scholarship and leadership reflect a deep commitment to strengthening the public purpose of higher education and preparing students to lead and serve in an increasingly complex society.

Dr. Watson received her Ph.D. in childhood studies from Rutgers University–Camden, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree. She received her master’s in psychological services from the University of Pennsylvania. She serves on several boards, including Samaritan and the Center for Family Services, where she served as chair. She served on the Camden City Public Schools Board of Education from 2006-09, a position to which she was appointed by Acting Governor Richard Codey and then re-appointed by Governor Jon Corzine. While on the board, Dr. Watson was elected as vice president and served as the chair of the curriculum committee. Her commitment to Camden and serving others has been honored by the Philadelphia Business Journal, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., the Anointed News Journal, and others.

The Division of Division of Impact and Community Engagement (DICE) reflects Rutgers University–Camden’s enduring commitment to access, opportunity, and civic responsibility—values that are central to lifelong student achievement, educational excellence, and institutional impact.

As a civically engaged, urban research institution with a 100-year tradition of serving first-generation college students, Rutgers–Camden advances learning and public purpose by strengthening pathways to higher education, fostering meaningful campus engagement, and preparing students to succeed – and lead – academically, professionally, and civically. DICE serves as the catalytic division that aligns institutional strategy, community engagement, and student-centered initiatives to maximize institutional and societal impact and ensure a campus climate where all faculty, staff, students, and community members are respected and thrive.