Joan Duffy Watt has been friend-raising and fund-raising for nearly 50 years. In 2005, after 22 years as chief advancement officer for the state鈥檚 largest law school, she established her own marketing and business development firm. Watt Communications provides consultation to nonprofit and professional services organizations, ranging from corporate identity campaigns to marketing and communication programs, from direct fundraising drives to special event programming and publications writing, editing, and production.
Among signature clients served by Watt Communications: the Greater Tacoma Community Community Foundation, Seattle University and its School of Law, Metro Parks Tacoma, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Annie Wright School, University of Utah, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction, YMCAs of Tacoma-Pierce County, and Christian Blind Mission International. Joan also has provided extensive business development consulting services to six major law firms, including Seattle鈥檚 Skellenger Bender, Tacoma鈥檚 Eisenhower Carlson, and McKinley Irvin, the largest family law firm in the Pacific Northwest.
In addition to independent consulting, Joan鈥檚 background includes 30+ years in higher education advancement as Director of Public Relations for the University of Puget Sound, Associate Dean for the UPS Law School, and Associate Dean for Advancement/Dean for Admission for the Seattle University School of Law.
In 2004, Joan was named the King County Bar Foundation鈥檚 Champion of Diversity in recognition of her work in expanding access to legal education and employment for historically underrepresented students and graduates. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Washington, where she served as vice president of the student body and a member of Delta Gamma Sorority. A former member of the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation Board of Directors, Advisory Board member for the Fund for Women & Girls, and a Trustee of the Washington State Bar Foundation, she presently chairs the SU School of Law Legacy Society Leadership Committee and recently was awarded the Law School Dean鈥檚 Medal for Extraordinary Staff Leadership and University Service.
Joan and husband John reside in the Gig Harbor area (now on the beach on Key Peninsula) where they raised two beautiful daughters and today are blessed with five grandchildren.
Photo courtesy of the Washington State Bar Foundation