What word would Jennifer Watt use to describe herself? Resilient. This word perfectly captures how the administrative manager has overcome personal and professional setbacks to thrive in all aspects of her life, from running ultramarathons to building a new career.
Watt, a self-described “Pitt Lifer,” earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. While completing her master’s degree in health, physical activity and chronic disease, she worked as a full-time research project manager in the Brain Aging and Cognitive Health Lab.
When her lab closed, Watt faced her first setback. She enjoyed working in the university environment and wasn’t ready to leave it yet, so she made the switch from research to administration.
Now, as the department’s administrative manager, Watt is responsible for human resources, hiring, appointments and promotions.
“In a way, I feel like I’m the lighthouse constantly scanning the department, ensuring that there are no issues across a lot of different areas,” she said.
When she’s not managing payroll reports or personnel changes for the department, Watt is an avid hiker, triathlete, environmentalist and reader.
She has been hiking sections of the Appalachian Trail since 2020. So far, she has explored about 200 miles of the 2,200 total miles of the trail. Nature is Watt’s happy place, and she describes the experience of being outside as “truly transformative.”
If you want to witness Watt’s passion for nature, all you need to do is step into her native plant garden. She started raising monarch butterflies as a quarantine project, which led her to learn more about biodiversity and how native plants like milkweed create hospitable environments for butterflies. Her backyard is now blooming with two types of milkweed, purple coneflowers, rue, bee balm and pawpaw trees.
Watt also enjoys the challenge of participating in ultramarathons and triathlons. This summer, she is planning on racing in a local sprint triathlon and the New River Gorge 50k. This is a 31-mile race through the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
The fact that Watt excels at these endurance races is even more amazing considering a personal setback that altered her life in 2024. She was in a car accident that resulted in a spine injury and an unrelated knee surgery. Restoring her mobility took time, but Watt is proud of how she never gave up on herself.
“One of my mottos is ‘a million little baby steps.’ Some days that may just be starting with five push-ups, but I’m always thinking about what I can do today to keep moving forward,” she said.
What is the best piece of advice someone has given you?
Happiness is an inside job. Lasting joy and contentment come from within yourself, and you will never know what you are capable of until you try.
What is your favorite book?
My favorite recent book is “Atmosphere” by Taylor Jenkins Reid. After I read it, I wasn’t ready to think about other characters for a week afterward.
If life was a movie, what would be your theme song?
I would say my theme song is “Meet Me in the Woods” by Lord Huron because I believe being outside and finding yourself in nature is truly transformative.