Alexandra Watson

Alexandra Watson is a Lecturer in the English department at Barnard College, where she specializes in First-Year Writing. She joined the faculty in 2017 and has since received multiple awards for her innovative teaching methods from both Barnard and Columbia University.23

Education and Career

Watson holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literatures and Cultures from Brown University and a Master of Fine Arts in Fiction Writing from Columbia University's School of the Arts.14 In addition to her role at Barnard, she has served as the Assistant Director of Writing Instruction at the Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA) since 2015, where she trains staff and teaches high school students in writing.15

Editorial Work

She is the co-founder and executive editor of Apogee Journal, a nonprofit literary arts organization that focuses on exploring identity and prioritizes artists and writers of color. Under her leadership, the journal has received the Whiting Literary Magazine Prize and secured grants from various arts councils.234 Watson's editorial work has garnered her the PEN/Nora Magid Prize for Literary Magazine editing in 2019.13

Writing and Publications

Watson's fiction and poetry have been published in notable literary outlets such as The Nation, The Rumpus, and PANK. Her short story "Even Days" won the Ronald Moran Prize from the South Carolina Review.234 Her writing often addresses themes of race, class, mental illness, and family dynamics.34

Teaching Philosophy

In her teaching, Watson emphasizes the importance of voice, perspective, and narrative, encouraging students to engage critically with texts and their own writing. She aims to foster a dynamic intellectual environment that promotes curiosity and discovery through writing.56