Southeast Regional Director

Richard Watkins

Richard Watkins was elected in 2014 to serve a three-year term as Associate Director of the Research and Doctoral Universities Constituency, beginning July 1, 2015.  In December 2015, the Board of Directors appointed Richard to serve as Director for the Southeast Region to fill out the unexpired term of Robert Black, who resigned.

Present Position:

Postdoctoral Research Associate with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapter Affiliation:

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Richard Watkins has served the University of North Carolina in numerous capacities, including serving on every branch of UNC's graduate and professional student government.  He  served on the attorney general staff where he worked with fellow attorney general staff members to uphold the integrity of the UNC’s honor system. He also served on the executive branch of the graduate and professional student government as the City and Local Relations chair. As chair, he worked with the local government to support and improve the economic, cultural, and research experience of downtown Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He also served on the legislative branch of graduate and professional student government, where he represented the specific interests of the department of microbiology and immunology.

Focused on improving the current state of North Carolina’s and our nation’s scientific enterprise, Richard helped found the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Science Policy Advocacy Group (SPAG). Its mission is to create a platform that gives science direct influence over policy while at the same time providing everyone access to science.

Richard received his B.S. in psychology with a minor in sociology from Fayetteville State University.  He received his Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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