When asked what drives her as an educator, Dr. Vajra M. Watson doesn’t hesitate: it’s about beginning with bold possibilities and working towards making them real, something she refers to as “freedom dreaming,” a term coined by Robin D.G. Kelley.As the new Naslund Endowed Dean of the School of Education, Watson sees learning as the soul of social change, as faculty prepare the next generation of teachers, leaders, and practitioners who, “don’t just theorize about justice but implement it in our lifetime.”Bringing more than administrative experience, Watson leads with vision and sees Redlands as a sanctuary for justice, an ecosystem where faculty and students are already engaged in transformative work. Her priority, she said, is to shine a light on that brilliance.Read more: https://www.redlands.edu/bulldog-bites/2025/forward-towards-bolder-horizons