Geography and Regional Planing Department, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Whit Watts has significantly impacted planning in Pennsylvania via many citizens and professional planners who have benefited from his commitment to people and places. He has guided hundreds of IUP students into productive and successful careers as planners and inspired them to values of community service and responsiveness. Under his leadership, the IUP Planning Student Organization was awarded Outstanding PSO by the American Planning Association in 2016. Because of his “community experience” approach to teaching, Dr. Watts and IUP students are routinely active in community planning projects. Whit is recognized for listening and working closely with communities, and for helping excite residents and officials into civic action.