Dr. Rebekkah Watkins is a TRIO Academic Success Coach at the University of North Carolina Asheville, where she supports students in navigating higher education and developing the skills and confidence needed to succeed. Her career in education spans K–12 and higher education, giving her experience working directly with students, educators, and educational systems.
Dr. Watkins holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, along with graduate certificates in Elementary Education and College and University Teaching, and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Instructional Technology Facilitation. Her professional and research interests center on student engagement, educational equity, youth leadership, and creating learning environments where students at all levels feel supported and capable of success.
Before transitioning to higher education, Dr. Watkins taught middle school, coached soccer, and led professional learning for educators. She has presented her work nationally and internationally, including at EDULearn in Spain. Her experiences as both a practitioner and researcher have shaped her interest in examining how educational policies and systems can better support students and the educators who serve them. She is particularly interested in bringing practitioner perspectives and