Charity Sneed Watkins
Dr. Charity S. Watkins is an accomplished assistant professor in the Department of Social Work at North Carolina Central University, where she has been a tenure-track faculty member since January 2018. In addition to her role as an educator, Dr. Watkins is a provisionally licensed outpatient therapist, bringing a unique blend of academic expertise and practical experience to her work.
She holds a Ph.D. in Social Work, earned in May 2019 from the prestigious School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her doctoral dissertation, titled "Parenting to Beat the Odds: How Low-Income African American Parents Promote Children’s Academic Resilience in Elementary School," reflects her commitment to understanding and addressing the challenges faced by socioeconomically marginalized Black children.
Her research endeavors focus on elucidating the mechanisms through which institutional racism impacts the well-being of Black Americans. She particularly examines the effects of racial and socioeconomic inequities on the physical and mental health of Black women. Dr. Watkins's recent research concentrates on racial disparities in maternal morbidity, with a specific emphasis on pregnancy-related cardiovascular disease and the socioemotional effects on Black women and parent-child relationships.
As a Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH) Scholar, Dr. Watkins aims to identify how the experience of severe maternal morbidity influences the perceived stress, mental health and parenting behaviors of Black women. Additionally, she investigates the potential buffering effects of perceived social support on these psychosocial outcomes.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to teaching and research, Dr. Watkins has received numerous honors and awards, including the NCCU Award for Excellence in Teaching in March 2022 and the Crystal Eagle Excellence Award for Outstanding Social Work Faculty in March 2019.
Her dedication to her field is further evident through her involvement in professional affiliations, including the National Center for Institutional Diversity, the Diversity Scholars Network, the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease and the National Association of Social Workers, among others.
Dr. Charity S. Watkins is not only a respected academic and researcher but also a compassionate practitioner committed to addressing social disparities and promoting the well-being of marginalized communities, particularly Black women and children.