Press & Media
In the Conversation
Dr. Sherrá Watkins is a licensed clinician, national speaker, and author who is regularly sought out on mental health equity, substance use, campus well-being, and the cost of strength for Black women. Selected appearances are below.
Video, Broadcast & Podcasts
Television
Black Star Network
May 2025 · A Balanced Life
"The women in our lives and why we love them"
Guest panelist on the roundtable with Dr. Jacquie Hood Martin.
Television
Black Star Network
May 2025 · A Balanced Life
"Mother wounds: Uncovering trauma and finding healing"
Guest mental health expert on the panel discussion.
Video Series
Campus Drug Prevention
October 2024 · U.S. DEA
"Prevention Profiles: Take Five — Dr. Sherrá Watkins"
Featured guest on the federal prevention video series.
Presentation
Lulu
May 2023
"Creating a healing notebook: Eight lessons learned by a psychotherapist"
Invited online presentation on building reflective tools for clients.
Panel
Substantial Magazine
December 2021
"The lens refocused: Our health and well-being"
Guest panelist on the video panel discussion.
Video Interview
The Embrace Wellness Podcast
March 2021
"How to empower girls into strong women"
Guest on raising and mentoring girls toward confidence.
Podcast
The Black Expat
2021 · Episode 39
"The lived experience"
Guest on identity, belonging, and life across borders.
Articles & Interviews
Bylined
Education Insider
2026
"Reimagining student wellness through integrated systems"
Bylined leadership perspective on building connected campus wellness.
Expert Interview
HealthCentral
October 2021
"Has COVID-19 helped or hindered the opioid crisis?"
Quoted as an expert source on substance use during the pandemic.
Expert Interview
Practical Pain Management
August 2020
"Is Your Pain Doctor Woke? Why Cultural Competence Matters for BIPOC"
Interviewed by Malini Ghoshal on cultural competence and the quality of pain care for BIPOC patients.
Profile
The Daily Utah Chronicle
November 2022
"New vice president for student health and wellness reflects on initiatives"
Profile interview on arriving at the University of Utah and early priorities.
On Stage
Selected keynotes, panels, and invited addresses.
East Carolina University
May 2024 · Greenville, NC
Recognition address, College of Allied Health Sciences
Invited back to her alma mater — where she earned her doctorate — to address the Spring 2024 graduating class.
Sam Houston State University
May 2026 · Huntsville, TX
"The Leadership Recharge: A Strategic Response to Change Fatigue"
Student Affairs division retreat — facilitation built around the WCI™ instrument.
NASPA
January 2026 · Chicago, IL
Fireside chat — opening keynote panel
Opening keynote panel at the 2026 NASPA Strategies Conferences.
HEFWA
July 2025 · University of Utah
"More Than the Mountain: Rebuilding Institutions for Thriving, Not Just Persistence"
Featured speaker, opening session — Law School Moot Court.
Calvary Baptist Church
March 2025 · Salt Lake City, UT
"Worship With Us This Sunday: Mental Health and Social Justice"
Invited community address, with the Delta Alpha Rho Zeta Chapter.
Weber State University
February 2025 · Black History Month
"Healing For All" wellness panel
Invited campus panelist for the Black History Month wellness series.
gOD-Talk
October 2024
"gOD-Talk: Reimagining faith in the 21st century"
Hosted film screening and moderated panel — a collaboration of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Pew Research Center, and University of Utah Student Health & Wellness.
Legal Support Staff of Winston-Salem
October 2019 · CLE-Approved
"The Job Makes Me Drink: Professional Burnout and Substance Abuse"
Continuing legal education seminar on burnout and substance use in the legal profession.
WSOC-TVDecember 2019 · Charlotte, NC
"Charlotte's Hidden Crises Series" — televised segment with Anthony Andrews, Phyllis Murray, and Kim King, interviewed by Brittney Johnson.
Practical Pain ManagementAugust 2020 · Vol. 20(5)
"Special Report: Race, Pain Management, and the System" — interviewed by Malini Ghoshal.
Sickle Cell SundaysSeptember 2020
"Mental health and living with sickle cell disease" — audio interview presented by Tolulope Afolabi and Paige Hardy.
Radio OneAugust 2020 · Good Mental Health
"Cannabis use among African Americans" — radio interview on cannabis, culture, and community health.
Substantial MagazineJuly 2020
"Black mental health in the wake of crisis" — live-streamed interview with Evelyne Billingslea in the Substantial Conversations series.
The Sonrise ProjectAugust 2020
"This is not your parents' marijuana" — virtual community presentation on cannabis potency and risk.
For Journalists & Producers
Booking & Media Requests
Dr. Watkins is available for interviews, expert commentary, panels, and podcast appearances — virtually or in studio.
Areas of Expertise
Mental health equity · substance use and recovery · campus and student well-being · burnout and boundaries · Black women's health · faith, identity, and healing.
Credentials
PhD · LCMHC-S · LCAS · CRC · CCS · BC-TMH. Associate Vice President for Student Health & Wellness, University of Utah. Founder & CEO, Sister W.E.L.L.S.™
Available For
Broadcast and podcast interviews, expert quotes on deadline, moderated panels, keynote and conference sessions, and bylined commentary.
Assets on Request
High-resolution headshots, short and long bios, book covers, and a one-page speaker sheet.
Press Contact
Request an interview or media kit.
Include your outlet, topic, format, and deadline, and you'll receive a response within two business days.
Email the Press Contact Send an Inquiry Download Media Kit (PDF)-
![A smiling woman with glasses and Afro hairstyle, wearing earrings and layered necklaces, indoors with blurred background.]()
"Dr. Watkins' keynote was a game-changer for our organization. Her insights on wellness and leadership were both inspiring and practical."
Workshop Attendee
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![A man with curly dark hair, wearing glasses and a nose ring, looking to the side with a slight smile, sitting indoors in front of a white wall and a plant.]()
"Dr. Elbert's workshop on health equity was eye-opening. She provided us with actionable strategies that we could implement immediately."
Workshop Attendee
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![A smiling Asian woman with shoulder-length black hair, wearing a blue top, standing among green plants.]()
"Dr. Blumell's presentation on community health initiatives was both informative and motivating. We left with a clear plan to make a difference."
Conference Attendee
