Andrea Watkins, MS, CCC SLP, CBIST
Senior Project Coordinator
Andrea Watkins is a senior project coordinator with the Center for Rural Health (CRH) at the University of North Dakota (UND) School of Medicine & Health Sciences.
Andrea works with the North Dakota Brain Injury Network (NDBIN), where she supports individuals with brain injury, families, caregivers, professionals, and communities across North Dakota.
Her work focuses on increasing awareness and understanding of brain injury, connecting individuals and families with resources and support, and developing education and programming for professionals and communities. She is involved in statewide brain injury outreach, professional education, concussion prevention and education, and initiatives that improve identification and support for individuals with brain injury. She has also played a key role in NDBIN's collaboration with the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to implement brain injury screening, education, and intervention within the correctional system.
Prior to joining CRH in 2024, Andrea worked as a speech-language pathologist in medical, educational, and rehabilitation settings, including Sanford Health and James River Special Education Cooperative. Her clinical background continues to inform her work with individuals experiencing the cognitive, communication, emotional, and physical effects of brain injury.
Originally from North Dakota, Andrea earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication sciences and disorders, and a Master of Science degree in speech-language pathology from UND. She is a licensed speech-language pathologist and a Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer (CBIST).
Projects
Most Recent Publications & Presentations
Preventing Youth Concussions in Rural North Dakota: Monitoring for Better Outcomes
Presented at the 2026 Dakota Conference at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota.