Charles “Tré” Watkins III, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Political Science

Charles “Tré” Watkins III, Ph.D., is a husband, father, and native son of Southeast San
Diego. He is an interdisciplinary scholar whose research examines what W. E. B. Du
Bois called Law and Chance, exploring how legal structures, institutions, and social
spaces shape Black life while illuminating the ways Black communities exercise agency
to create places of connection, joy, and freedom. His scholarship focuses on Black
placemaking, digital counterspaces, the role of social media in contemporary student
activism, and career readiness.


Tré is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Point Loma Nazarene University,
where he teaches research methods, comparative politics, social movements &
protests, and social inequality. His teaching is grounded in the belief that theory is not
simply something to be studied, but a way of seeing, questioning, and transforming the
world. By bringing classical and contemporary thinkers into conversation with today’s
most pressing political and social issues, he equips students to think critically about
democracy, justice, power, and possibility.


Bridging political science, sociology, education, and Black Studies, Tré’s work seeks to
make scholarship both intellectually rigorous and publicly engaged. Whether in the
classroom, through his research, or in community, he is committed to cultivating spaces
where knowledge serves liberation and theory informs practice.

Education

  • Ph.D., University of San Diego
  • M.A., Arizona State University 
  • B.A., California State University San Bernardino 

Courses Taught

  • Understanding the Political World - POL 1001
  • Scope and Methods of Political Science - POL 2070
  • Comparative Politics - POL 3070 
  • Protests & Social Movements in World Politics - POL 4055
  • Senior Seminar in Political Science - POL 4073 
  • Capstone: Cross-Sector Collaborations - PBA 4050
  • Scope and Methods of Political Science - PBA 2070
  • Introduction to Sociology - SOC 1001 
  • Research Basics - SWF 3006

Professional and Community Involvement

  • Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Lambda Iota Sigma Chapter Member
  • San Diego Lactation Equity Alliance Board Member

Awards and Honors

  • Doctor Joi Spencer Diversity Champion Dissertation of the Year Award, 2024

Dissertations, Presentations, and Publications

Books

  • Tichavakunda, A.A., Hollingsworth, J., & Watkins III, C.L. Towards a green book in higher education. Edited Book: Under Contract with SUNY Press. 

Articles

  • Watkins III, C.L., & Cooper, D. (2026). More than a space: Black placemaking and the post-pandemic purpose of the BRC. ​​Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice 
  • Watkins III, C.L., & Alkatib, P. (2025). Moving toward a career ecosystem at PLNU. National Association of Colleges and Employers Journal. 

Presentations

  • Watkins III, C.L. & Urquart, A. (2026). Faith, Formation, and the Future of Work: Faculty Perspectives on Career Readiness. American Sociological Association Annual Meeting [Roundtable Session]. New York, NY. 
  • Watkins III, C.L (2026). The Possibilities of a “Green Book” Approach to Higher Education. AERA Annual Meeting [Symposium]. Los Angeles, CA, April 8-12.
  • Watkins III, C.L., & Cooper, D.  (2025). Behind the Veil: Black Placemaking and Belonging in the Wake of Dual Pandemics. Association of Black Sociologists Annual Conference [Roundtable Session]. Memphis, TN, October 11-14.  
  • Watkins III, C.L. (2025). Studying, Race, Space, and Agency in Higher Education: A Black Placemaking Approach to Understanding Black Campus Communities. AERA Annual Meeting. Denver, CO. 
  • Tichavakunda, A.A., Hollingsworth, J., & Watkins III, C.L. (2025). Black Students Navigating a Predominantly White Campus: A Critical Spatial Approach. AERA Annual Meeting. Denver, CO.
  • Watkins III, C.L., Alkatib, P., & Cloyes, K. (2024). No longer in the opt-in business: How Point Loma Nazarene University integrated career competencies into the curricular experience. National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Competency Symposium. November 14.
  • Watkins III, C.L. & Alkatib, P. (2024). Feeding 4000 with 4: How PLNU scaled career services to meet students' needs. The Collective 2024 Annual Virtual Conference. November 21.
  • Watkins III, C.L. (2024). From counterspaces to community: How members of a Black Student Union find, build, and maintain community at a PWI. [Division H 2024 Early Career/Graduate Student In-Progress Research Roundtable]. AERA Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA, April 10-14.
  • Watkins III, C.L. (2023). From counterspaces to community: A qualitative case study analysis of Black community making at a PWI [Paper session]. Association of Black Sociologists Annual Conference. Philadelphia, PA,  August 17-19. 
  • Watkins III, C.L. (2022). #HashtagActivism: Black campus activism in the digital age [Roundtable session]. AERA Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA, April 13-16.