Dr. Bevlee A. Watford, P.E. is a Professor Emerita of Engineering Education, Associate Dean Emerita for Equity and Engagement, and the Founding Executive Director Emerita of the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) for the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech. She received her B.S. in Mining Engineering, M.S. and Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from Virginia Tech.

She has secured more than $20 million dollars to support CEED and other undergraduate initiatives. Her research activities focus on the recruitment and retention of students in engineering, with a particular emphasis on under-represented students. CEED has implemented nationally recognized programs that have enhanced the success of all students, receiving the 2010 Claire Felbinger Diversity Award from ABET and the 2011 NSBE-ExxonMobil Impact award for implementing successful research-based efforts to improve retention.

She served as president of the American Society for Engineering Education for the 2017-2018 year. In 2023 She was nominated by President Biden to serve on the National Science Board.