Dr. Rose Camile Thomas Watson (b. 1931) grew up in segregated Virginia, became an educator, and taught across the U.S. and Angola. Returning stateside, she raised four children while teaching at FIU, University of Miami, Florida Memorial, and more.

A mentor to many, she later authored Purposeful Parenting, helped launch Achieva College Prep and then OZY, and inspired a generation to look for “the new and the next.” Rose passed in 2014, but her spirit guides ROSE: take adversity, make beauty, amplify worthy voices. Tough, tender, and purposeful—our North Star.