Dr. Mindy
Watson

Dr. Mindy Watson is the strategic change officer for the Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services, Inc. (CHESS). In this role, she provides strategy and change leadership to create a people-centric approach to organizational change management efforts in support of transformational change for member colleges.  

Prior to joining CHESS, Dr. Watson served as the director of assessment, academic program review, and special projects at Santa Fe Community College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, leading assessment and academic program review for the college as well as assisting with HLC accreditation duties, serving as interim grants director, and teaching as an adjunct instructor.  

Previously, Dr. Watson served as the executive director of planning and sponsored projects at Clovis Community College in Clovis, New Mexico, overseeing the Office of Institutional Research, developing and launching integrated institutional planning, providing compliance and oversight of all federal grants, and developing state and federal grant proposals.  

Dr. Watson has extensive rural, minority-serving-college experience developing data-driven projects that drive change, improving the student experience and outcomes. She always has an eye toward continuous quality improvement while understanding and navigating resource constraints and unique organizational culture.