Daphne C. Watkins

University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor, Professor of Social Work, Director, Vivian A. and James L. Curtis Center for Health Equity Research and Training, Research Center for Group Dynamics at the Institute for Social Research

University of Michigan

Daphne C. Watkins, Ph.D., is a University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor and Professor of Social Work at the University of Michigan. Dr. Watkins studies: (1) behavioral interventions for historically marginalized groups; (2) mixed methods approaches to research in context; and (3) leadership development and organizational management. Centering the strategies for success among historically marginalized groups, Dr. Watkins’ research aims to maximize human potential, elevate social experiences, and provide equitable impact in communities and organizations. She considers herself a “community practitioner” interested in developing efficient tools and systems that activate positive, strengths-based outcomes for those most in need. Ultimately, she is committed to conducting and mobilizing cutting-edge, use-inspired research to address important social concerns. Dr. Watkins teaches courses in the U.S. and across the globe on advanced research methods, health equity, and community-based interventions. She has over 100 publications and two books, Mixed Methods Research (2015, Oxford University Press) and Secondary Data in Mixed Methods Research (2022, Sage Publications). In addition to directing the Vivian A. and James L. Curtis Center for Health Equity Research and Training, Dr. Watkins is the founding director of the Gender and Health Research (GendHR) Lab, the Certificate Program in Mixed Methods Research, and the award-winning Young Black Men, Masculinities, and Mental Health (YBMen) Project, which leverages technology to provide mental health education and social support for young Black men.