Nievita Bueno Watts, Ph.D.

COMPASS & INRSEP Director

Dr. Nievita Bueno Watts, a McNair Scholar, is a geoscientist and science educator whose work focuses on opening pathways and mentoring students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM). She was the first person in her family to graduate from college. Dr. Watts is currently Director of COMPASS, the Indian Natural Resources, Science & Engineering Program (INRSEP), and its constellation of affiliated programs at Cal Poly Humboldt. Dr. Watts earned a BS in Geoscience from the University of Arizona, an MS in Geoscience and PhD in Geoscience Education from Arizona State University. She has been involved with SACNAS for over 20 years and attended both the Leadership Institute (2013) and Advanced Leadership Institute (2018). She serves in leadership positions of the Geoscience Alliance (GA), Ecological Forecasting Initiative (EFI), and Native Food Energy and Water Systems Alliance (FEWS).