Dr. Michelle Watson, a researcher and educator, received Walden University’s 2008 Contribution to the Profession Award. Watson earned a Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in Health Psychology from Walden; her dissertation focused on research that her mentor and dissertation committee chair Dr. Rebecca L. Jobe described as forging “a new area of research within eating disorder therapy, bridging an important gap among social, psychological, health and counseling approaches to treatment.”

In her dissertation Watson examined the relationship between intrapersonal forgiveness and eating disorder symptomatology. Jobe, who nominated Watson for the award and currently serves as the executive director of Walden’s Center for Faculty Excellence, said that Watson’s research “will change the way that experts approach an extremely vulnerable client population.”

Since beginning her research work, Watson has appeared as a keynote speaker, panel member and conference speaker in more than seven venues that focused on this issue.
Watson has worked as a counselor for people with eating disorders for several years. With her dissertation, she has combined her passion for this issue and the advancement of its related academic field. Watson continues to work with patients, incorporating the knowledge she gained through her graduate work and research.

About the Award
The Contribution to the Profession Award is presented annually to a graduating student whose program of study or research has made an important contribution to her or his profession.

Read more about the Contribution to the Profession Award and past recipients.

August Ponder front page

More Walden news