Kareem Watts, diversity practitioner and director of the Hedgeman Center at Hamline University

Kareem Watts

Director of Hedgeman Center for Student Diversity Programs & Initiatives
Phone: (651) 523-2624

Dr. Kareem Watts (aka Kareem Elevated) is a Student Affairs Professional, Hip Hop Artist, and Poet with 16+ years in higher education, including adjunct teaching. As Assistant Director of the Center for Inclusive Excellence at Gustavus Adolphus College, he led campus-wide initiatives and served on the President's Council on DEI.

Kareem is also an award-winning Higher Education Thought Leader. A former President of the Minnesota Chapter of American College Personnel Association (ACPA), he works to build strategic networks and initiatives at Hamline, fostering belonging for marginalized students, colleagues, and the community through the Hedgeman Center.

He holds a Doctorate in Student Affairs Administration & Leadership from UW-La Crosse, a Master's in Higher Education Administration from Southern New Hampshire University, and a Bachelor's in Organizational Leadership from Biola University. His arts-based research explores hip hop pedagogy (HHP) for Black college student success.

In 2024, Kareem presented his research at his first international conference, the 7th Annual European Hip Hop Studies Network in Ireland. The final chapter of his dissertation study features his latest album, Flo-etic Storytelling Mixtape Ch. 5.