Meet the Watt Family Innovation Center Team
February 3, 2016
The Watt Family Innovation Center, Clemson’s newest on-campus building that serves as a hub of innovation and creativity for students, faculty, and staff, officially opened its doors in January 2016. The Watt Center has an exceptional team of faculty and staff that make the Center operate seamlessly on a day-to-day basis. Each member of the Watt support staff brings unique talents and expertise to the Center, and features on several of these key team members is included below.
Dr. Charles Watt
Executive Director
Watt Family Innovation Center
watt@clemson.edu
864-656-9241
Dr. Watt serves as the Executive Director of the Watt Family Innovation Center. Prior to this assignment, Dr. Watt served as Dean of the University’s College of Business and Behavioral Science. Additionally, he is a professor at Clemson University and has served as a board member or consultant for several advanced technology private as well as public organizations. Before retiring from industry, he founded and provided initial leadership for Watt Systems Engineering and Scientific Research Corporation. He subsequently formed Electronic Systems Support Company, a small business organized under the laws of South Carolina.
Dr. Watt’s research and management activities at other organizations have ranged from analysis, modeling, and conceptual research to the development of highly complex systems. While serving as an Executive in the Office of Secretary of Defense, Dr. Watt’s responsibilities included: (1) management of global test range resources; (2) preparation and submission of assessment reports on major weapon systems requiring a decision by the Secretary of Defense; and (3) direction of joint service research, development and test programs.
Dr. Watt is a graduate of Clemson University (BSEE), the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (MBA), and George Washington University (M.S. & DSc.). He has served on the Foundation and President’s Advisory Boards at Clemson University and Chaired Utah State University Research Foundation Board of Trustees. His academic service also has included membership on the Emory University Graduate Council and the George Washington University SEAS National Advisory Council.
Dr. Watt is a senior member of IEEE, Tau Beta Pi, and sigma Xi, and he frequently lectures at universities and professional societies on technology trends and their impact on society. His career has been distinguished by numerous honors and commendations, including the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Distinguished Service Award, a Commendation for Special Service to the U.S. Congress on Telecommunications, the George Washington University Alumni Achievement and Hall of Fame Awards, the International Test and Evaluation Association (ITEA) Allen R. Matthews Award, and Clemson University Alumni Distinguished Service and the Thomas Green Clemson Academy of Engineers and Scientists Awards. One of his several corporate affiliated community recognitions was the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Gazelle Award which honored Atlanta’s fastest growing high-tech companies.
Dr. Denny Lester
Associate Director for Science and Technology
Watt Family Innovation Center
dlleste@clemson.edu
864-656-9252
Dennis “Denny” L. Lester serves as the Associate Director for Science and Technology at the Watt Family Innovation Center.
Before joining Clemson University, Lester served as Director of Training and Education and Business Area Lead, Guardtime Initiatives and Program Manager for Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. Lester has also served as Technical Director and Program Manager for the Scientific Research Corporation in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He holds a B.S. in Aeronautical Technology from Arizona State University, an MBA from Phillips University, and received his Ph.D. in Organizational Learning and Instructional Technology from the University of New Mexico. Lester also holds several aviation certifications and is the author of numerous presentations and papers.
Dr. Barbara Speziale
Associate Director for Academic Affairs
Watt Family Innovation Center
bjspz@clemson.edu
864-656-1550
Dr. Barbara Speziale is the Associate Director for Academic Affairs in the Watt Family Innovation Center. She provides overall administrative leadership for academic activities undertaken by and within the Watt Center.
She previously served for 14 years in associate dean positions in Undergraduate Studies and in Public Service Activities. She is a professor in the department of Biological Sciences.
Dr. Speziale excels at spearheading and leading efforts innovative academic programs, many funded through her $14.5M in external grants. She directs Clemson’s Creative Inquiry program that supports team-based research experiences for thousands of undergraduate students each year. Her SC Life Education and Outreach program, supported by $6.4 in grants from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, provided science enrichment activities for undergraduates, K-12 students, and teachers. With a grant from the National Science Foundation, she established Clemson’s FIRST program to support students who are the first in their families to attend college.
She has received numerous state and national awards for education, service, and scientific awareness.
Brianne Campbell, MFA
Watt Family Innovation Center
Media Graphics Manager
btcampb@clemson.edu
864-656-9331
Brianne Campbell serves as the Media Graphics Manager at the Watt Family Innovation Center and her responsibilities pertain to anything visual in the Watt Center. Brianne creates and/or approves all the digital content throughout the building, including, but is not limited to, the interactive digital wayfinding, digital signage displays and work spaces, five atrium video walls, and the 209’ x 24’ media screen.
Brianne was born and raised in Massachusetts in a suburb located thirty minutes north of Boston. She graduated from Clemson University in 2010 with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and again in 2015 when she received her Master of Fine Arts in Digital Production Arts. Brianne says she loves her job because “when you are working in an Innovation Center at a University like Clemson, you know you’re always going to be creating exciting content, and finding new ways to use digital art to enhance education.”
Tim Howard
Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability
timh@clemson.edu
864-656-4460
Jeannette Braine-Sperry
Administrative Coordinator
jbraine@clemson.edu
864-656-9241
Brittany Stephenson
Administrative Assistant
Bsteph2@clemson.edu
864-656-9408
Brittany Stephenson has served as the Administrative Assistant for the Watt Family Innovation Center since August 2014. She graduated from Clemson University in May 2014 with her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English.