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Dr. Danelle Stevens-Watkins

Program Co-Director

Dr. Danelle Stevens-Watkins-MPI is an Associate Professor and Associate Vice President for Research – Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Stevens-Watkins’ is a licensed health service psychologist, and her research is focused on the epidemiology and treatment of drug use disorders and HIV risk among African American adults across the lifespan. She has served as PI on a diversity supplement (R01-DA-022967-S1) from 2010 through 2012, PI on a career development award (K08-DA-032296) from 2012 through 2018. She currently serves as PI on a study focused on the opioid crisis among underserved African Americans (R01-DA-049333) and as co-I on the Kentucky CAN HEAL (Communities and Networks Helping End Addiction Long-term) $87 million multi-site grant (UM1-DA-049406-PI: Walsh). In addition, Dr. Stevens-Watkins serves as MPI on an NIMHD administrative supplement focused on a multi-level community-based approach to PrEP uptake for African American women (U54-MD-007602-34S2). In 2020, Dr. Stevens-Watkins was appointed as an Assistant Vice President for Research to lead the UNITE-RPA (United in True Racial Equity Research Priority Area) and she was promoted to Associated Vice President for Research in 2021. The position was created in response to the University of Kentucky’s declaration of racial equity as a research priority area and commitment of $10 million in funding over the next five years. The mission of the UNITE RPA is two-fold: 1) to support research and scholarship that develops innovative solutions and establishes best practices focusing on recruitment and retention of racially diverse faculty, staff, and students, and 2) to support research and scholarship focused on racial disparities, racial health equity, and social and racial justice that will result in impactful scholarly outputs and extramural funding for sustainability. The role as the lead for the UNITE RPA compliments her role as MPI from the University of Kentucky on the Faculty ACCESS program. Further, over the past twelve years, Dr. Stevens-Watkins has taught a variety of all graduate level courses, served as the primary mentor and dissertation chair for fifteen doctoral students, four post-doctoral trainees, and five junior faculty members. In recognition for this service, she has earned several awards for teaching and mentoring. Over the past six years, she has served as a training faculty for (T32-DA-035200-PI: Rush) an award titled “Research Training in Drug Abuse Behavior” and she served as a co-mentor for a junior faculty completing a KL2 award funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (CTSA-UL1TR000117-PI: Kern).


Both MPIs are highly successful African American/Black female scholars that have earned competitive NIH awards focused on biomedical research. It is expected at the start of the Faculty ACCESS program that both Drs. Robinson and Stevens-Watkins will be at the rank of full professor. Dr. Robinson and Dr. Stevens-Watkins will bring lived experience to this IPERT program focused on research training, tools for overcoming challenges from multiple marginalized backgrounds, and navigating career transition points as URM scientists. Further, the MPIs have served as peer supports for one another through academic and career success for nearly three decades. Unlike Dr. Robinson, Dr. Stevens-Watkins was trained as a clinician and transitioned to a career in biomedical research after completing her doctoral degree and clinical internship. These similarities and differences compliment the Faculty ACCESS Program and increase the program reach for URM trainees.


Dr. Danelle Stevens-Watkins
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