[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 99 (Wednesday, June 7, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING DR. NAKISHA McCRAY WATTS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 7, 2023

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 
Executive Director and Entrepreneur Dr. Nakisha McCray Watts.
  Dr. Nakisha McCray Watts was born to James McCray and Catherine 
Doyle, and raised in Lambert, MS. Dr. Watts is 36 years old. She is the 
wife of DeJuan Watts, Jr., and the mother of Harlem Mulan Watts, DeJuan 
Kingston Watts, and KeJuan Amir Watts.
  Dr. Watts graduated in 2005 from Madison S. Palmer High School in 
Marks, MS. Afterwards, she attended Rust College in Holly Springs, MS, 
as a Business Management Major. She also became a member of Delta Sigma 
Theta Sorority, Inc. For a few years after graduating from Rust 
College, she enrolled in graduate school at Mississippi Valley State 
University in Business Administration and graduated in 2012. She then 
enrolled into Jackson State University in the Urban Higher Education 
Ph.D. Program and graduated 2018.
  Dr. Watts served as the Mississippi Tobacco Free Coalition Director 
for Quitman and Tallahatchie Counties from 2010-2012 with Delta Health 
Alliance. She was named the top Director of Mississippi-by-Mississippi 
Department of Health in 2011. From there, Dr. Watts was promoted to 
Program Manager with Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program in 2012-2020. 
Dr. Watts became the Director of Admissions and Registrar at Coahoma 
Community College in 2020, where she was challenged to increase 
enrollment during the peak of the pandemic. She increased enrollment 
using innovating recruitment tactics such as Tiger Talk, High School 
Day Tour etc. and used stakeholders in the community to recruit 
students. Dr. Watts also serve as an adjunct instructor at Mississippi 
Valley State University and Delta State University. She is also the 
founder of SHEUplifts, LLC., which is designed to uplift and empower 
women of all ages by educating, providing resources, and coaching women 
to push them to their desired level. She has offered entrepreneur 
workshops, professional development training and women empowerment 
events such as Millionaire Chic's, conferences, girls youth camps, and 
brunches.
  With a decade of experience, Dr. Watts has been a leader in the non-
profit sector with skills of implementing, budgeting, and sustaining 
programs in the communities. She began her career as a Youth Financial 
Literacy Mentor with Quitman County Development Organization and has 
always made community, economic development, and students the focus of 
her work.
  Dr. Watts continues her community initiatives by serving as President 
of Quitman County Middle School Parent Teacher Organization, Member of 
Mississippi Tobacco Free Coalition of Quitman and Tallahatchie 
Counties, Member of Mississippi Tobacco Free Coalition for Coahoma and 
Tunica Counties, Treasure of Quitman County Economic Tourism and 
Development Inc., and Social Action Chair of Clarksdale-Marks Alumnae 
Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dr. 
Nakisha McCray Watts for her dedication to serving this great state and 
country.

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