Julia S Watkins, DNP, RN, FNP-BC

Dr. Watkins, Julia Self

Dr. Watkins joined East Carolina University’s College of Nursing in 2018 as a part-time faculty member while continuing her clinical practice. In December 2025, she transitioned to a full-time role as Clinical Assistant Professor.

A lifelong North Carolinian, Dr. Watkins grew up in Alamance and Wake Counties. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (1993), a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from Duke University (2000), and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (2012).

Dr. Watkins brings more than 25 years of nursing experience across a variety of clinical settings. She began her nursing career at the UNC Burn Center before transitioning to public health. Most of her work as an FNP has been in pediatrics in both private and public practice settings, including Boice-Willis Pediatric Clinic in Rocky Mount and Eastern Carolina Pediatrics in Wilson. She has also worked in athletics, primary care, women’s health, and occupational health, and has served as a preceptor for both nursing and medical students throughout her career.