TCU Mourns Loss of Harris College Dean Christopher Watts in Fort Worth
FORT WORTH, Texas — Texas Christian University is mourning the loss of Dr. Christopher R. Watts, the Marilyn & Morgan Davies Dean of the Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences and a tenured professor in the Davies School of Communication Sciences & Disorders. His death was announced by the college, prompting an outpouring of grief across the TCU community.
In a statement, TCU Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences described Dr. Watts as a respected and compassionate leader whose impact will be felt for years to come.
“It is with profound sadness that we share news of the death of our Dean, Dr. Christopher Watts—a respected and compassionate leader whose loss is felt across Harris College and the entire TCU community,” the statement read. “Dean Watts devoted his career not only to advancing our college with vision, integrity, and care, but also to deepening understanding and research in Parkinson’s disease, work that will continue to impact lives. He leaves a lasting legacy of leadership, scholarship and service.”
Dr. Watts joined TCU in 2008 as Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders and later served concurrently as Assistant Dean from 2015 to 2018. Following a national search, he was appointed Dean of Harris College in 2019. In addition to his administrative leadership, he held a tenured faculty appointment and remained actively engaged in teaching, research, and mentorship.
Before coming to TCU, Dr. Watts held faculty positions at James Madison University, the University of South Alabama, and the University of Central Florida. He brought more than 25 years of experience in higher education and spent the last 16 years in academic leadership roles, where he was widely respected for his collaborative and student-centered approach.
Dr. Watts’ clinical, teaching, and research work focused on laryngeal function in voice and swallowing, with a particular emphasis on Parkinson’s disease. He authored more than 80 peer-reviewed research publications and presented his work at national and international conferences. In 2019, he co-authored the textbook Laryngeal Function and Voice Disorders: Basic Science to Clinical Practice, published by Thieme Medical Publishers, a resource widely used in the field.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology in 1994 and his doctoral degree in 1998 from the University of South Alabama. He also completed a clinical fellowship focused on neurological and neurodegenerative impairments. A clinically certified speech-language pathologist, Dr. Watts was elected a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 2014, one of the profession’s highest honors.
Colleagues and students remember Dr. Watts not only for his academic accomplishments, but also for his kindness, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to advancing health sciences education and research.
Details regarding memorial services and opportunities to honor Dr. Watts’ life and legacy will be shared by the university when available.
