FAMU Leaders Selected for Prestigious Harvard Programs
Tallahassee, Fla.—Sept. 8, 2026— Florida A&M University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Allyson L. Watson, Ph.D., and Professor Natalie Arnett, Ph.D., have been selected to participate in leadership development programs at Harvard University.
Supported by FAMU President Marva B. Johnson, J.D., their selections reflect the University’s commitment to developing women leaders at every level of higher education, from senior administration to the faculty.
"Investing in the growth of our people — from our executive leadership to our esteemed faculty — is an investment in the future of this University. I have long believed the strongest leaders are lifelong learners, and Provost Watson and Dr. Arnett embody that belief. Provost Watson will sharpen her expertise in institutional strategy and executive leadership at Harvard, while Dr. Arnett will deepen her scholarship and expand her impact as an educator through the Harvard Administrative Fellowship. What they bring back will fortify our institution, elevate our academic excellence, and strengthen how we serve our students. I am proud to invest in the growth of two women whose leadership will ripple far beyond their own careers — and help shape this entire community for years to come."
Although both programs are designed to strengthen leadership in higher education, they address distinct aspects of academic leadership: advancing strategic vision at the executive level and cultivating administrative leadership among faculty.
Florida A&M University Provost Allyson Watson
Leading from the Executive Level
Watson will participate in the Women Leaders: Advancing Together – Senior Leaders executive education program this month at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Designed for senior higher education executives, the intensive program focuses on executive management, institutional strategy, and navigating complex organizational dynamics to lead institutions into the future.
“Dr. Arnett and I are delighted by this honor, and I am profoundly grateful to President
Johnson for believing in us,” Watson said. “Her unwavering support for women in leadership
empowers us to reach higher and lead with greater purpose. I appreciate her trust
in my executive leadership and her investment in our faculty. We look forward to making
her and FAMU proud.”
Natalie Arnett, Ph.D.
Cultivating Administrative Leadership Among Faculty
Arnett has been accepted into the 2026–2027 Harvard Administrative Fellowship Program as a visiting fellow. The nine-month program, which runs from September 2026 through spring 2027, is designed to complement her ongoing academic work at FAMU.
The fellowship includes interactive seminars, speaker series, case studies, professional coaching, and mentoring circles led by Harvard faculty members, senior administrators, and certified coaches. Arnett will begin the fellowship on Sept. 24 with an academic schedule covering emotional intelligence, leadership frameworks, and institutional storytelling.
“Being selected for the Harvard Administrative Fellowship Program is a profound honor and a pivotal moment in my career,” Arnett said. “True leadership within higher education begins in the classroom and grows through intentional service to our institutional mission. I am deeply grateful to President Johnson and Provost Watson for their unwavering belief in empowering faculty leaders. I look forward to bringing the insights and strategies gained from Harvard back home to enrich our FAMU community.”
Together, Watson’s and Arnett’s selections demonstrate FAMU’s commitment to strengthening leadership throughout the University and investing in professionals who will advance academic excellence, institutional innovation, and student success.
Media Contact:
Rachel James-Terry
Senior Director of Strategic Communications
rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu
