Dr. Jamal Watson Receives 2026 NADOHE Dr. Frank W. Hale, Jr., Distinguished Service Award

Trinity Washington University’s Associate Dean of the School of Professional and Graduate Studies and higher education journalist honored at NADOHE national conference

WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 7, 2026 — The National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) has selected Dr. Jamal Watson, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Director of Strategic Communication and Public Relations at Trinity Washington University, to receive the 2026 Dr. Frank W. Hale, Jr., Distinguished Service Award. Watson was recognized at NADOHE’s annual conference, held March 25–28 in Philadelphia.

The Dr. Frank W. Hale, Jr., Distinguished Service Award is presented to an individual who is distinguished in higher education through a robust record of consistent service for inclusive excellence; exercising innovative and courageous leadership; serving as a visionary in the field; exemplifying the philosophy, principles and practices of NADOHE; and contributing substantially to diversity and inclusive excellence in higher education. The award was named in memory of Dr. Frank W. Hale, Jr., former vice provost for minority affairs and professor at The Ohio State University, who is remembered as a tireless crusader of 54 years for diversity in higher education.

Watson is an expert on race and media, and one of higher education’s most prominent journalists. He previously served as executive editor of Diverse: Issues In Higher Education, where he has written and edited since 2005, holding roles including senior staff writer, managing editor, and editor-at-large. He is also a contributor to The Washington Monthly and a regular television commentator on education issues. Education Week named him one of the nation’s top 200 university-based educators who influenced education policy in 2025 and 2026.

At Trinity, Watson directs the Strategic Communication and Public Relations, M.A.  program and the Journalism and Media Studiess, B.A. program, and teaches in both. A trained historian, he earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Georgetown University, a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, a master’s degree in higher education from the University of Delaware, and a Ph.D. in Afro-American Studies from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

“The ongoing work of inclusion continues, despite these challenging times,” said Watson. “We must remain steadfast in our commitment to building institutions where every student — regardless of background — has a genuine opportunity to succeed. That is not a political position. It is a moral one.”

Watson also reflected on what the honor means for Trinity and the students the university serves.

“Trinity Washington University is living proof that inclusive excellence is not aspirational language — it is an institutional practice,” Watson said. “As both a Predominantly Black Institution and a Hispanic Serving Institution, Trinity has long understood that diversity is not a program to be managed; it is the foundation upon which transformative education is built. This recognition affirms what so many of us in this work have always known: when you invest in the students that others overlook, you change lives, and you change the world.”

“It is a privilege to recognize this year’s Inclusive Excellence Award winners,” said Dr. Emelyn dela Peña, president and CEO of NADOHE. “These individuals and institutions represent the innovation, courage, and commitment required to advance inclusive excellence across higher education and in our communities.”

About Trinity Washington University Trinity Washington University is a Catholic liberal arts university in Washington, D.C., founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. As both a Predominantly Black Institution and a Hispanic Serving Institution, Trinity has a long history of serving women and underrepresented students and preparing them for leadership in their communities and professions.

About NADOHE The National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) is the preeminent voice for chief diversity officers in higher education. As the leader of the national conversation on diversity, equity and inclusion, NADOHE investigates, influences and innovates to transform higher education so that inclusive excellence lives at its core.