Biography
Trained as a professional opera singer, Benjamin Delp Watts has performed from Austria to Austin, Texas; and in Reading, from Albright College to Alvernia. Ben received a Bachelor of Arts degree in German, music, and theatre and dramatic literature from Albright College in 1998; and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from The University of Texas (UT) at Austin in 2001. After graduating from UT Austin, Ben had the privilege and honor of studying under internationally renowned opera star, Gilda Cruz-Romo, for ten years. During that time, he became fluent in Italian. Ben deeply loves being a collaborative musician, performing as a recitalist and orchestral soloist.
Ben joined Alvernia’s Leadership Ph.D. program in August of 2015, a program that was a leap of faith and completely out of his comfort zone. He learned a new language called leadership and discovered a love for qualitative research. In October 2018, Ben co-presented in a panel discussion with Jim Elliker and Dan O’Connor, facilitated by their professor, Dr. Spencer Stober, at the International Leadership Association annual conference in West Palm Beach. In April 2019, Ben, along with Julia Dunst and Helen Midouhas and professors Dr. Elena Lawrick and Dr. Spencer Stober, gave a panel discussion at the 2nd Annual Pennsylvania Leadership Studies Conference. He also gave a lecture to Alvernia Seniors College in November 2019 entitled The Grace of Office. That same month, Ben was awarded the Fall 2019 Graduate Student Research Fellows Grant for his doctoral research. Dr. Watts graduated with his Ph.D. in May 2020.
Ben currently serves as Vice-President on the Board of Co-County Wellness Services. Starting in May 2022, Dr. Watts became the first full-time Director of Development in the 88-year history of the Yocum Institute for Arts Education.