University of Kentucky Provost Robert S. DiPaola has named Danelle Stevens-Watkins acting dean of the?College of Education, effective?Jan. 4. She succeeds Julian Vasquez Heilig who became the provost of Western Michigan University.

Stevens-Watkins is a professor in the Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, as well as the university’s associate vice president for research, diversity and inclusion.

“I am honored to serve the College of Education and the university in this capacity,” Stevens-Watkins said. “I am a proud UK College of Education alum. Our faculty, staff and students are leaders in impacting positive change across the Commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond.?As a native Kentuckian, I take pride in this historic moment.”

A UK news release says 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 more than $8 million in grants and contract funding as principal investigator. Her research has earned funding from the National Institute of Health ?for over the past decade.

In her role as the associate vice president for research for diversity and inclusion, Stevens-Watkins has led the?UNITE (UNited In True racial Equity) research priority area?since its inception in August 2020. UNITE is a $10 million investment over five years focused on growing racial equity research at UK and the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty and students at UK.

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 EdS 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 Universityof Louisville.