Acting Dean Danelle Stevens-Watkins, Ph.D., a proud UK College of Education alum, also serves as the university’s associate vice president for research -- UNITE RPA and is a professor in the Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology.
Stevens-Watkins is the first woman of color to serve in this role for the College of Education, marking a historic moment for the college and university.
Stevens-Watkins is a licensed health service psychologist and clinical scientist. Her research is focused broadly on improving health outcomes for Black Americans. Notably, to date, she has secured over $11 million in grants and contract funding as principal investigator (PI). Her research has earned funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for over the past decade.
In her role as associate vice president for research -- UNITE RPA, Stevens-Watkins has led the UNITE research priority area since its inception in August 2020. UNITE is a $10 million investment over five years focused on elevating research at the University of Kentucky by leveraging existing strengths and forging new relationships.
Notably, Stevens-Watkins was the 2022 Kentucky Psychological Association Researcher of the Year. She has earned the Teacher Who Made a Difference Award multiple times at UK, the UK Clinical and Translational Sciences Mentor Recognition Award and the Kentucky Psychological Association Mentor of the Year award.
Prior to her faculty appointment at the college, first in 2008 and again in 2013, Stevens-Watkins worked for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Our Lady of Peace psychiatric hospital, residential drug treatment facilities and state and federal prisons. She completed a Ph.D. and Ed.S. in counseling psychology from the University of Kentucky, and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Spalding University, along with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Louisville.
The office of the dean includes: