Assistant Professor This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(205) 975-4938

Research and Teaching Interests: Religiosity, spirituality and Black Men’s health; social welfare policy, medical social work, and social justice advocacy

Office Hours: By appointment

Education:

• BS, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• MSW, University of Alabama, Social Work
• MDiv, The General Theological Seminary, New York City
• PhD, University of Alabama Birmingham, Public Health

Dr. Watkins is a Licensed Master’s Social Worker who has been working in the fields of medical and public health social work and social advocacy for decades. His practice experience has been working at a local hospital as a Behavioral Health Social Worker.

Watkins began his social justice and social work career working with Black Men being a health educator in the field of HIV/AIDS, and this field experience inspired his research interests in examining the role of religiosity, spirituality and their unique correlations impacting health (mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual) outcomes for Black Men. He has several research articles and publications on religiosity, spirituality, sexuality, and health. His professional and teaching interests include social welfare policy, medical social work, public health social work, and social justice advocacy and education.

His favorite quote by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Dr. Watkins believes every life is its own valued expression to live out loud and change the communities and world we live in through social action, education, and advocacy.