Dr. Kellee D. Watkins

From One Vision to a Flourishing Movement

What started as a classroom literacy idea has blossomed into a campus-wide tradition, as the Aggies READ Festival returns April 18, 2026 connecting children, future teachers, and environmental awareness through reading.

The festival represents a growing contribution to literacy education and community engagement, showing how hands-on learning and environmental themes can help children connect reading to real-world purpose and responsibility.

“One of the things is we’re bringing in Earth Day,” Watkins said. “We are incorporating ways that children can use literacy learning to contribute to promoting the saving of our planet.”

The festival will feature interactive activities that merge literacy with science, helping children understand how reading applies to everyday life. Each child will receive a book focused on environmental topics such as recycling and conservation.

At the center of the festival’s growth is Dr. Kellee D. Watkins, whose journey from student-athlete to educator has shaped the program’s mission and impact. Before becoming a leader in literacy education, Watkins built a strong foundation in athletics. A native of Durham, North Carolina, she was a three-sport student-athlete at Livingstone College, competing in cross country, basketball, and track and field. She set the school’s women’s triple jump record and earned multiple academic and athletic honors, including recognition as valedictorian and most athletic female.

After graduating, Watkins transitioned into coaching, serving on Livingstone’s staff for women’s basketball and track and field while also working in education. Her time balancing athletics and academics ultimately led her toward a deeper passion: teaching. That shift from sports to the classroom became the root of what would later grow into the Aggies READ Festival.

“I teach the literacy courses, and I wanted to teach my teacher candidates how to engage with families and children outside of school while still giving them what they need in order to be successful,” Watkins said.

Now a literacy professor, Watkins created the festival to give future educators hands-on experience while strengthening reading skills among children in the community. Over the years, the event has expanded, branching into new ideas and broader impact.

Twitter/X: @kelleedwatkins LinkedIn: @KelleeDWatkinsPhD