Tyler Watts grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the son of a devoted mother and an entrepreneur father. Watts began working in the family construction business at age 10, gaining both useful skills and a deep curiosity about the world of business and entrepreneurship. He went on to study economics at Hillsdale College, where he met his wife, Jeanna, in the college orchestra, where they both played trombone.

After stints in the construction and finance industries, Watts earned a PhD in economics from George Mason University in 2010 and began his career in academia. Watts has taught at public and private universities in Michigan, Indiana, and Texas. The Watts have 4 children and reside in rural northern Michigan. In addition to his university duties at Ferris, Watts volunteers as a middle school algebra teacher at St. Peter’s Lutheran School in Big Rapids. When not teaching, Watts enjoys worship and fellowship at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Cadillac, gardening, and working on old cars.