Christopher R. Watts, PhD, the Marilyn and Morgan Davies Dean of TCU’s Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences, whose groundbreaking research on Parkinson’s disease and tireless advocacy for community health transformed countless lives, died earlier this week. 

A nationally recognized expert in voice disorders and speech-language pathology, Watts spent nearly two decades at TCU building programs, mentoring students and translating cutting-edge research into tangible help for people living with neurodegenerative diseases. His leadership elevated Harris College’s reputation while never losing sight of his central mission: serving people. 

“We are dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of our communities,” Watts said on behalf of Harris faculty in 2023. “We aim to enhance global health through education, scholarship and innovation, and we prepare professionals to change the world for the greater good.” 

He devoted his career to that vision — and built Harris College around it. 

A Scholar Who Served 

Watts joined TCU in 2008 as director and chair of the Davies School of Communication Sciences & Disorders, bringing with him a doctorate from the University of South Alabama and a passion for helping people with communication impairments. Under his direction, the Davies School flourished: Undergraduate enrollment grew by 60 percent, and graduate enrollment increased by 70 percent. He guided a major renovation of the school’s facilities, expanded clinical services and substantially increased graduate financial aid.

Under Christopher Watts’ direction, the Davies School of Communication Sciences & Disorders thrived, with undergraduate and graduate enrollment increasing substantially. Photo by Scott Murdock

After serving as assistant dean for strategic initiatives from 2015 to 2018, where he led development of Harris College’s vision, mission and strategic plan, Watts was named dean in 2019. His leadership philosophy was straightforward: get faculty into the community to help real people. 

Watts ensured the successful implementation of Harris College’s first PhD program, which is in health sciences and is “graduating researchers with the interdisciplinary knowledge and skills so desperately needed to enhance global health,” said Susan Mace Weeks, executive vice provost and Watts’ predecessor as dean of Harris College.

“Most of the research done by our faculty is applied research,” Watts told TCU Magazine. “Our faculty are going out into the community to help real patients, which aligns with our vision for transforming health care.” 

The Parkinson’s Mission

Watts’ most enduring legacy may be his work addressing Parkinson’s disease — a calling that united his expertise in voice and swallowing disorders with a deep commitment to improving quality of life for patients and families.  

His research, which started with a Parkinson’s-related dissertation, was prolific: more than 80 peer-reviewed publications examining how the disease affects speech, voice, and swallowing over three decades of study.  

Christopher Watts partnered with boxer Paulie Ayala on Punching Out Parkinson’s, a program that showed boxing significantly improves respiratory strength in patients. Photo by Joyce Marshall

“Chris Watts was a visionary leader who understood that great research serves real people,” said Floyd L. Wormley Jr., TCU’s provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “His work illustrated the power of scientific inquiry combined with deep compassion for patients and their families. As TCU advances our research mission, Chris set the standard for what it means to pursue excellence while staying grounded in community impact. He built bridges between the laboratory and people’s lives; we will miss him dearly but his influence will shape our work for years to come.” 

Watts never let research remain in academic journals. In 2016, he created Endeavor Parkinsonology, a Fort Worth initiative connecting newly diagnosed patients with evidence-based exercise programs, support groups and educational resources. He saw a critical void: “So many people have received a Parkinson’s diagnosis and been given a prescription for dopamine and told to come back in six months. And they’re like, ‘What do I do now?’ ” 

Watts also established the Tarrant County Parkinson’s Group, which met several times a year at TCU, bringing together patients, caregivers, faculty and students to discuss treatments and share support. 

Recognizing that exercise could help combat symptoms, Watts collaborated with former world champion boxer Paulie Ayala to establish Punching Out Parkinson’s, an innovative boxing-based exercise program. He published a 2023 study showing that non-contact boxing increased respiratory muscle strength by 60 percent or more in men with Parkinson’s after a year of biweekly resistance training. 

In 2024, he co-founded TCU’s Center for Neurodegenerative Disease with Michelle Kimzey, associate professor of nursing, establishing Fort Worth as a hub for Parkinson’s and dementia research, education and support. 

The center’s creation was catalyzed by a $1 million gift from the Zoota family, whose late patriarch Murray Zoota lived with Parkinson’s. The donation funded the Eleanor & Murray Zoota Endowed Professorship and launched the Zoota Family Leaders in Parkinson’s Disease Speaker Series in 2023, bringing global experts to Fort Worth. 

“The world is aging, and the United States is aging, and dementia and Parkinson’s disease are significant problems of aging,” Watts said. “And guess what? TCU is doing something about it.” 

Building Connections, Changing Lives

Throughout his tenure at TCU, Watts emphasized that Harris College’s strength came from its deep community roots. 

“For decades, our world-class faculty has conducted research in the community for the benefit of the community,” he said. “Our long and strong connections with Fort Worth and Tarrant County are leading to better health outcomes.” 

“Chris Watts exemplified TCU’s deepest commitments — to education that transforms, to research that serves our community and to leadership grounded in genuine care for others,” said TCU Chancellor Daniel W. Pullin. “He didn’t just study how to improve lives, he devoted himself to doing it, bringing hope and help to patients and families facing Parkinson’s disease. His legacy will continue through the students he mentored and the community he brought together in common purpose. The TCU community and Annie and I extend our sincere condolences and will keep his family and friends in our prayers.” 

Christopher Watts celebrated student achievements throughout his career, including at the 2023 installation of TCU’s 150th anniversary mural in Chicago featuring Harris College graduates. Photo by Amy Peterson

As dean, Watts secured more than $17.75 million in gifts and commitments, including major endowments for distinguished chairs, student scholarships and the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease. He envisioned the center eventually funding pilot research projects focused on Parkinson’s disease and dementia, bringing faculty and community together to solve problems.  

Watts was elected Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 2015 and received TCU’s Wassenich Award for Mentoring in 2012. 

“TCU lost someone truly great this week,” said TCU Trustee Marilyn Davies. “His time at TCU and on earth was too short, but his vision and ideas elevated TCU and all of the Harris College programs. The college and our students are nationally recognized in large part due to his work and the dedication of his team over his 17 years at TCU. This is also a personal loss for me and my family — he was a friend and has been an inspiration to us.” 

Christopher R. Watts is survived by his wife, Deborah Watts; daughters Lindsey Watts ’21 and Emily Watts ’22; and the countless students, faculty, patients and families whose lives he touched through his research, teaching and unwavering commitment to improving health in the community. 

Christopher Watts’ funeral is scheduled for Monday, January 19, at 10:00 am at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home, 5725 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville, Texas 76034.

The family is requesting that people wear purple or royal blue in his honor.  

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Punching Out Parkinson’s.