Nathena Marie Tate was born in Oklahoma City to Nathan and Bonnie Tate on August 22, 1928. 

She grew up in Oklahoma City, attended Taft High School and majored in Art at Oklahoma State University. When she was 13 she moved to Ireland, Texas where her father was a rancher, Justice of the Peace, and Airplane Instructor. She met Dudley Watkins there and they were married June 1, 1950. Dudley was an Architect and Tina continued to paint and sculpt, and exhibited and sold many works of art. In the 1960’s she and Dudley took in several students from Mexico and Argentina to learn English. Dudley began working on projects in Mexico and her lifelong love of international work was born. Dudley returned to Texas A&M to get his Master’s degree and become Director of the Graduate School of Architecture’s Building Design option. He was voted most popular professor his third year.

After Dudley’s untimely early death in 1976, Tina returned to the University of Texas and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art. Upon returning to College Station she worked as Director of the Arts Council District, which included 9 central Texas Counties. When the position of Foreign Student Advisor came up she marched in and demanded the job, rising to Director of International Student Services where she worked for over 16 years. She worked with international students from all over the world. Usually over 100 countries are represented in any given year. 

In 1979 she started International Week at Texas A&M. International Week’s goal is to bring the many nationalities and cultures together as one group with common interests. Her hope was to bring about healing of long standing differences between the nationalities and upon the return to their individual countries, for the students to have acquired a better understanding and deeper appreciation of their neighbors and the US. She strived hard to help these new foreign students find friends within their own expatriate communities, but also with other foreign students and Americans. She saw the need to set up programs to help this integration process. International Student Week at Texas A&M is the most successful program of its kind in the United States. 

She assisted many with their transitions to our culture, often picking up people at the airport in the middle of the night, taking them to her home, and making them feel welcome. One of her first International Student Body Presidents was Riyadh Chakmachi from Iraq, who earned his PhD. in Architecture. Other International Student Body Presidents include Dr Gabriel Caranza, now Director of Texas A&M’s Latin Studies. With Tina’s love and guidance they established a network of International Aggies and Alumni that continues today. Each country group set up their own program to present their foods, art, dance, in a fabulous display of international pride and integration. Many students from warring countries became good friends spreading understanding, dialog and peace.

There was a documentary film made about international week and although other schools have tried, they haven’t matched Texas A&M’s success. Suzanne Droleskey was her prote’ge’ and remained good friends after she took over the position upon Tina’s retirement. Tina was very proud to have worked with all her students and friends at Texas A&M. She was awarded the distinguished service award at Texas A&M.

After her retirement at the request of the University she traveled to China, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, San Salvador, setting in motion continuing Aggie Clubs. She also helped with the Art Docent Programs, and Literacy volunteer programs.

known as a second “mother” to more than 8,000 international students during her tenure at Texas A&M; died Monday, Jan. 6, 2003, at 1:30 a.m. Watkins was the director of International Student Services from 1979 to 1995. Watkins died at her home in College Station after a long illness. A memorial service was held, Thursday, Jan.9 at All Faiths Chapel on the campus of Texas A&M; University. She was buried in Oklahoma.

She is survived by two sons; Steve Watkins, wife Nancy, and granddaughter Lia Watkins; Gregory Watkins, wife Merrilee, and grandsons, Zachary and Nathan Watkins. She is also survived by her brother Don Tate, wife Karen and nephews Nathan, Eric and Terry and by many aunts, cousins, and international students that consider her their second mom.

The Tina Watkins Scholarship Fund for international students at Texas A&M; University was established with a $10,000 gift from a prominent Korean businessman, Dr. Jung Uck Seo, who received the University’s Outstanding International Alumnus Award in 1996. In honor of her years of service at Texas A&M; the fund has been named the Tina Watkins Scholarship Fund.

Seo’s gift became the “lead gift” in the International Programs Office capital campaign, which is part of the University’s One Spirit One Vision Campaign. The new, multi-year fund-raising campaign is aimed at helping Texas A&M; attain national top 10 status among public universities. The campaign, currently in its “leadership phase,” will be publicly launched during a campus celebration on March 28, 2003. The International Programs Office is making the new scholarship fund the focus of its campaign effort, and is currently formulating its financial goals for the campaign.

During her time at Texas A&M, she counseled numerous international students in personal immigration and academic matters. She became a “second mother” to many students as she met them at the airport, helped them find housing, visited them in the hospital, and answered their questions about college life in a new culture.

Watkins helped establish the annual International Week event and served as advisor for more than 30 international student organizations, including the International Student Association. Watkins also created an emergency loan fund for international students. She dedicated her life to serving international students.

Those interested in donating to the Tina Watkins Scholarship Fund should contact the International Student & Scholar Services at [email protected] or the ISSS Donation Website.