CAU Alumni Newsletter Amplify Issue 10 July 2025

JULY 2025 | Issue 10

The Watson Family Scholarship: Standing in the Gap for CAU Students

A Cincinnati, Ohio, native armed with a bachelor’s degree in social work, Ray Watson was looking for the right school to pursue a master’s degree. He considered Howard, the University of San Francisco, and UCLA, ultimately deciding on Atlanta University because of its reputation for excellence and because at the time, it was responsible for educating approximately 70 percent of the country’s Black master’s and doctoral level social workers.

Reflecting, he says, “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”

After graduating, he returned to Ohio and had a fruitful career in social work. He used the skills he had acquired at AU in roles that included serving as a therapist, an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati Hospital, associate director of clinical services at the Central Clinic, and the senior program officer at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

As retirement loomed, Watson and his wife, Debra, made the decision to return to Atlanta, where they became deliberate about legacy building. His love for his alma mater still burning warmly, they focused on how they could help students in a meaningful way. He spoke at new student orientation and was compelled to do more, so in 2014, he and his wife presented the inaugural Watson Family Scholarship.

Watson says, “I’ve always felt that a legacy isn’t something that you leave for somebody; it’s something you leave in somebody.”

"I've always felt that a legacy isn’t something that you leave for somebody; it’s something you leave in somebody.”

He describes the scholarship as gap funding. The award is granted through an application process that includes an informal interview and a needs assessment. Watson says he learned the importance of gap funding when he called a recipient’s parents to tell them about the award.

“I called and the mother put me on speaker phone so the father could hear. I told him I was going to give them some money for their daughter, and the father started crying. He told me when the phone rang, they were discussing how to tell their daughter they did not have the $1,000 to secure her housing. They were planning to tell her she would have to come home.”

The gap funding was life changing for that awardee, as it has been for eleven others. Watson says he is proud of helping young people financially, and it is clear he is equally proud of the role he and his wife play as hands-on mentors.

Watson and his wife encourage the awardees to be involved and active on campus. And further shared that their relationships with the awardees did not end at graduation. “We have kept up with them. There have been ten Watson Family Scholarship graduates, and one is a current student whose scholarship will help defray the cost of a study abroad experience this year.”

While Watson humbly contends he is not doing earthshattering work, he is passionate about challenging other alumni to consider making Clark Atlanta University a part of their legacies.

“I can only imagine if just 200 alumni—which isn’t a lot—were doing what we’re doing. It’s our responsibility to help these young people. It doesn’t take tons of money to make a real difference.”

Dear Panthers,

The team in the Office of Alumni Engagement is committed to making sure Amplify plays a critical role in keeping your finger on the pulse of CAU.

As the Class of 2025 stepped boldly into their careers and or advanced studies, the campus community paused in quiet reflection—honoring the achievements, challenges, and triumphs that defined the year.

Now, in the literal heat of summer, we find ourselves immersed in action—visioning and planning future activities and initiatives that will position Clark Atlanta University to meet the evolving needs of our students while keeping our alumni fully engaged and informed.

This month’s issue features the powerful story of Alumnus Ray Watson, whose deep love for Clark Atlanta University is evidenced by his generous philanthropy. We are also pleased to spotlight Alumnus Patrick Daniels, who served as the first secretary of the Beta Psi 1923 Foundation. Both individuals are making meaningful investments that support CAU students and the programs that elevate the university’s standing through national recognition for scholarly research and top-tier rankings. (See “Did You Know?” below for more details.)

In the last issue of Amplify, we announced Clark Atlanta University’s new alumni podcast, Pulse of the Panther. Since that time, we have been recording episodes, and we are excited to officially launch the podcast this Fall. Stay tuned for more details—we can’t wait to share it with you!

Finally, July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, and we are excited to use this platform to remind CAU alumni that your mental wellbeing is essential to an abundant life. Being part of a community that embraces you is an integral part of emotional wellness, and it is our honor to help foster community among the CAU family that plays such a vital role in the lives of graduates across the globe--and together, we continue to uplift, support, and thrive.

With Panther Pride,

Lorri L. Saddler, Ed.D.

Vice President, Chief Alumni Engagement Officer

Clark Atlanta University

Patrick C. Daniel, ’89, ’91

Chief Human Resources Officer, Global Aviation Terminal and Skycafé

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science - Clark College

Master of Public Administration, Human Resources Management – Clark Atlanta University

Patrick Daniel is a human resources professional with more than 30 years of experience in transforming workplace culture and operations and improving the lives of employees. He is a proud, two-time Clark Atlanta University graduate and was thrilled to share his thoughts on work, life lessons, and the importance of giving back.

How did you choose Clark College?

“Clark College chose me. I went to Morehouse for three days before the registrar told me I had a bill of $3,000. That might as well have been $3,000,000 — so there was no way I was going to be able to enroll. I had come too far, so I sat down and reflected, and I looked through my high school graduation program and the insert for scholarships, and I discovered I had a $25,000 four-year scholarship to Clark College that I never knew about. I walked over to Clark, signed the documents, and the lady said, ‘You’re enrolled.’”

What was the most valuable lesson you learned while a student at Clark College?

“There are several that have shaped what my life and career have been. I discovered I was a prototype for our motto: find a way or make one. I knew I needed to be in college. I didn’t know the how, but I knew the what.

Clark revealed my resilience. The pledging process (Beta Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.) taught me a no-quit spirit. I started with six guys and ended up crossing by myself.

It was later that I learned exactly how strong a Clark College education is. I was working and in training programs with folk who don’t look like me—and let me tell you, you couldn’t tell the difference because whatever level they were on, I was on it or above. I was worthy.”

Tell us about your career path.

“When I graduated, I worked at a chemical manufacturing company. Once I left that company, I went to Kraft Foods, and the platform got bigger. PepsiCo was next, and that really catapulted my career because it led to Coca-Cola recruiting me. I was at Coke for nearly 14 years and worked as a consultant for another four years or so, which led to other government contracts. I was chief HR officer at Bonnell Aluminum for almost 12 years, and now I serve as chief HR officer for General Aviation Terminal. I’m also a partner in The Focused Approach, a business I started years ago to provide advice and counsel to companies and individuals. I recently became mediation certified, and I plan to add that to The Focused Approach’s menu of services.”

How has your career in human resources made a difference for employees at the companies where you worked?

“I really started understanding that I had something to offer to those who don’t have a voice. I could stand in the gap for them and serve as an intermediary. I developed a learning center concept to help incentivize employees to get GED level training and learn to read. One guy came to me in tears and said, ‘Mr. Daniel, I can now read to my grandchild.’ In one role, I saw where African American women were being paid significantly less than their white counterparts, so I started working on fixing that pattern of systemic racism.”

Of all the things you have done, what makes you most proud?

“I grew up in a housing project, and I’m first generation everything. I was told nothing good comes out of where I’m from. But I always excelled academically, and I had teachers who saw my potential. I’m grateful to a gifted and talented teacher who took me places to get me out of that environment—to show me what I could be. In my neighborhood, you weren’t supposed to be successful. All the odds were against us. But I’m still here, thriving and making an impact. I’m pretty proud of that.”

If you could give undergraduate students one piece of wisdom to carry throughout their lives, what would it be?

“Graduates of CAU are high achievers. You have to keep going. You have to live the motto: Find a way or make one. If it is your goal, you have to light up that motto; you’ve got to find a way or make one.”

How do you give back?

“During a homecoming dinner in 2016, a fraternity brother said we needed to start a foundation and challenged us to put some money up. We did the incorporation and opened an account, and the rest is history. That was the beginning of the Beta Psi 1923 Foundation. By default, I became the secretary. We give scholarships to CAU students who need help in the last mile, STEM scholars, and others where we become aware of a need.

I’m chair of the Sundresses and Seersuckers Foundation, which has awarded nearly a million dollars in scholarship funds to date and supports a non-profit focused on mentoring and college access.”

If you had the opportunity to speak to other alumni about giving back to the institution, what would your message be?

“We didn’t get here alone; none of us got here alone. Giving to students has to be our number one mission and priority. Stay available, and when the moment is right or someone approaches you, put your helmet on, run into the game, and give.”

THE PANTHER SCENE

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