Eck said that because Watson will no longer be affiliated with a Harvard graduate school, Lowell House has declined to reappoint him, even though the House has not hired a resident tutor in Economics for next year.
“It’s part of our requirement as a resident tutor that all our resident tutors be in good standing with their departments and have affiliations with FAS,” said Eck, adding that affiliations with Harvard Medical School, Harvard Business School, and Harvard Law School also qualify. “It’s happened in other Houses...[they] appoint artists and things like that, but it’s become much less common.”
Yet Eck expressed her dismay at Watson’s impending departure.
“I have gone to bat with two or three deans to try to get an extraordinary appointment with him in the Economics department,” Eck said.
Students have said that Watson shows unusual dedication as both a section leader and as an advisor.
“He always has kids in his room, giving advice on everything from class to life,” said Adam M. Virgadamo ’07, an Economics concentrator who went to Watson for academic advice as a freshman.
“As much as you were willing to put in, he was willing to match you—and more,” said Virgadamo, who now lives in Watson’s entryway and co-founded the “Students for Bruce” group on thefacebook.com.
And both Lescano and Chadbourne said that Watson’s multiple review sessions before each exam are widely attended, and that he keeps tabs on individual students’ progress.
Watson also received praise as a full instructor. He took over Economics 1010a three years ago, after the instructor, Lecturer on Economics Robert H. Neugeboren ’83, was temporarily removed from the class due to student complaints.
Watson has received multiple nominations for the Levenson Prize in the past three years, and won the prize in 2001.
Though Watson will be leaving the College, he will teach at the Extension School starting in the fall.
“I will definitely be teaching a course on finance in the Extension School in the fall, and the Extension equivalent of Ec10 in the spring.” Watson said.
—Staff writer Jannie S. Tsuei can be reached at tsuei@fas.harvard.edu.