Daniel Watson - '24
Providential Connections: SWU Grad Watson Builds a Bridge from Business to Law
Daniel Watson had 24 hours. His Army JAG Corps internship application was due, and he needed a letter of recommendation. He knew exactly who could help.
“I texted Dr. Brent Dongell,” Watson said. The Southern Wesleyan University Department of Religion professor delivered a letter within hours, and Watson secured an opportunity many law students only dream of.
This moment demonstrates SWU’s lasting impact on Watson, even as he navigates his first year at the University of South Carolina Law School. The 2024 SWU graduate sees divine guidance at pivotal moments in his educational journey.
“I’ve always felt like God’s been pushing me in the right direction, helping me end up where I need to be,” Watson reflects. From a chance connection that brought him to SWU, to his mother’s unexpected suggestion for him to take the LSAT, to a last-minute internship opportunity, Watson views these “random things” as evidence of God’s direction in his life.
The Pickens native, who completed his high school education through Cyber Academy’s online program, never imagined attending SWU. “I always thought I would go to Clemson,” he said. But a family connection introduced him to Bradley Coker from SWU’s admissions office, who invited Watson for a campus tour that changed everything.
Coming from an isolated high school experience, Watson found SWU’s intimate atmosphere exactly what he needed. “The small community fit me great. I love the people and all the support I got,” he shares. And Watson, who majored in business, recommends SWU to potential students for that very reason: “If you want that kind of tight-knit faith community, SWU is as good as it’s going to get.”
This supportive community extended beyond campus social life. Watson speaks glowingly of the business faculty, including Dr. Hammond, Professor Timmerman, and Dr. Eischen. “I didn’t have a single bad professor the entire time I was at SWU,” he emphasizes. When Professor George Buzzy recognized Watson’s potential in his business law class, he strongly encouraged him to consider law school, another divine nudge that Watson recognizes in retrospect.
Now at USC Law School, Watson hopes to foster a similar community among SWU alumni in the legal profession. “I really am interested in getting more SWU people to come to law school,” he says. “People hear law school and they get intimidated and scared because it has a reputation that it’s going to grind you out,” he insists. “But I could guarantee you there are SWU students who would do well if they were here.”
While at SWU, Watson did an honors project on churches and foster care that has shaped his career aspirations. “My family fostered and that’s why I was interested in foster care. I grew up with foster siblings in and out of the house, and it’s a ministry I want to get involved with someday,” he explains. Now, Watson is considering entering politics to advocate for foster care reform.
“I really want to be an advocate for foster care, and politics seems like a great way to lobby for more funding and attention,” he says, and he can envision himself pursuing local or state office after establishing his legal career.
As Watson continues to follow what he perceives as God’s direction in his life, he hopes to create pathways for more SWU graduates to enter the legal profession. “We need more Christian lawyers,” he emphasizes, “and SWU’s community values provide an excellent foundation for ethical legal practice. I very strongly urge my fellow students to get involved and just look into applying.”