Professor Stephen Watson

Photo of Professor Stephen Watson

MA, MMath, PhD

Life Fellow

Stephen Watson won a scholarship to Emmanuel in 1960 to read Natural Sciences, but came in to residence in October 1961 to read Mathematics. He became a Wrangler in 1964, and after Part III of the Mathematics Tripos studied for a PhD in Applied Mathematics. After winning a Smith's Prize in 1967, he was elected to a Research Fellowship of the College in 1968. Three years later Stephen became a University Lecturer in Operational Research and Statistics in the Department of Engineering and an Official Fellow of the College. In 1978 he became Head of the Management Studies Group in the Department of Engineering, and in 1986 was elected the first Professor of Management Studies in the University. He was much involved with the development of management education, becoming the first Director of the Judge Business School in 1990.

In the College he was a Tutor from 1973 to 1985, Admissions Tutor in Science from 1978 to 1984, and for a short time in each case Praelector, Financial Tutor and Acting Bursar. In 1994 Stephen left Cambridge to become the Dean of the Management School at Lancaster University, and was at that date elected into a Life Fellowship of the College. In March 2001 he left Lancaster to become Principal of Henley Management College. He retired from this position at the end of 2004 and moved back to Cambridge. Since then he worked for the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business, Reims Managament School and Practical Action, an international development charity of which he was Chair of the Board from 2007 to 2013. He had a second term as Praelector of the College from 2008 to 2010; he is also a trustee of the Foundation Charity of King Edward VII School, King's Lynn, and a trustee of Michaelhouse, Cambridge..

He has been married to Rosemary since 1969, and they have two children, both now professionals - one in computers and the other in medicine.

Stephen’s main leisure activity is singing, as those who know him will know from his habit of singing in public places (which some find engaging and others find irritating but all find eccentric). He sang in the Chapel Choir from 1961 to 1966, and in various other Cambridge Choirs since then.