Education
- Ph.D. in Political Science - International Development
- The University of Southern Mississippi
- M.A. in Latin American Studies
- The University of Arizona
Positions Held
1999 - 2002
City Colleges of Chicago
Instructor
1996 - 1997
Florida State University
Instructor
1995 - 1997
Central Texas College
Instructor of Government and History
1991 - 1992
The Inter-American Foundation
Program Staff Assistant Program Staff Assistant
Intellectual Contributions
COVID-19 Resilience in Indigenous Communities: A Community Capitals Approach
Kristin A Drexler,Michelle A Watts
October (4th Quarter/Autumn) 2, 2025
Journal of Indigenous Research
The Past as Prologue: How Historic Relations with the Federal Government Encouraged Foundations of Resilience and Autonomy for the Metlakatla Indian Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Casey Skvorc,Michelle A Watts,Kristin A Drexler
February 17, 2025
Journal of Indigenous Research
Spiraling up Agency and Resilience among Indigenous Communities during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Michelle A Watts,Kristin A Drexler,
January (1st Quarter/Winter) 6, 2025
Latin American Perspectives
An Interdisciplinary Capitals Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts to Indigenous Communities of the Americas
Michelle A Watts,Kristin A Drexler,Casey Skvorc
April (2nd Quarter/Spring) 2023
SECOLAS Conference Proceedings
Bomberos, Maestros y Psicólogos: Guatemalan Civil Society Response to the Volcano of Fire Disaster
Michelle A Watts,Katherine H Brannum
March 15, 2023
The Journal of Human Rights
Making Sovereignty Mean Something: Native Nations and Creative Adaptation
Michelle A Watts
July (3rd Quarter/Summer) 14, 2021
IAFOR Journal of Cultural Studies
Exploring the Digital Divide: Information Technology Governance and Native Nations
Michelle A Watts,Mark Colwell
May 24, 2019
Global Security and Intelligence Studies
Choices of Lesser Importance? Conflicting Values Shaping Perceptions of Community Security & Women’s Health Security
Kate Brannum,Michelle A Watts,Joseph Campos II
November 29, 2018
Global Security and Intelligence Studies Journal
Michelle Watts, American Public University – Indigenous People of Costa Rica
Michelle A Watts
February 12, 2016
The Academic Minute
Game of Norms: Panama, the International Community and Human Rights
Michelle A Watts,Kate Brannum,Kimberly S Ruff
May 22, 2014
Latin American Policy
Drugs, Thugs, and the Diablos Rojos: Perils and Progress in Panama Latin American Policy Review
Michelle A Watts,Kimberly Dannels Ruff
December 2012
Latin American Policy
Operation Gatekeeper
Michelle A Watts
2011
Greenwood Press-ABC-CLIO
Operation Hold the Line
Michelle A Watts
2011
Greenwood Press, ABC-CLIO
The US and Panama: The Evolution of an Asymmetric Relationship Delaware Review of Latin American Studies
Michelle A Watts,Kimberly Dannels Ruff
June 30, 2011
Delaware Review of Latin American Studies
Seguridad del Canal de Panamá: Una Década Después de la Salida de Estados Unidos," (Security of the Panama Canal: One Decade after US Departure)
Michelle A Watts
2010
Air & Space Power Journal, Español
PRODEC: At Death's Door?
Michelle A Watts
September 5, 2010
Panama News
What is PRODEC?
Michelle A Watts
August 10, 2010
Panama News
Internal Contracts, Fellowships, Grants and Sponsored Research
Travel to indigenous reservations in Costa Rica
2015 - 2015
Funded - Completed
Game of Norms: Panama, the International Community, and Indigenous Rights
2012 - 2014
Funded - Completed
Presentations
Contrasting LLM Outputs for a Controversial, yet Widely Accepted Historical Event
AI and the Future of Education Conference
October 16, 2025
An Interdisciplinary Capitals Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts to Indigenous Communities of the Americas Michelle Watts and Kristin Drexl
72nd Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies
April 24, 2025
An Interdisciplinary Capitals Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts to Indigenous Communities of the Americas
Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies
April 22, 2025
English in education
Webinar
March 29, 2025
The COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts and Indigenous Agency: A Community Capitals Comparative Case Study of Indigenous Communities in North and Central America
Reacción y resistencia: Imaginar futuros posibles en las Américas
June 12, 2024
Get Up Stand Up
Get up Stand Up
October 17, 2023
Research Report for Faculty Research Grants (COVID impacts to Indigenous Communities)
Research Grant Symposium
May 2023
An Interdisciplinary Assessment of Covid-19 Pandemic Impacts to Indigenous communities of the Americas
Research Grant Symposium
May 11, 2023
Conference Presentation International Edition
Lunch n Learn
May 9, 2023
An Interdisciplinary Capitals Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts to Indigenous Communities of the Americas
SECOLAS
March 24, 2023
Panel: Diverse Perspectives: Exploring History, Innovation, International Relations & Ethics in Space
Space Studies and Strategic Applications
September 22, 2022
A Case Study Comparison of Pandemic Impacts on Indigenous Groups in the Americas
Metlakatla Indian Community (Alaska)
July 14, 2022
A Case Study Comparison of Pandemic Impacts on Indigenous Groups in the Americas
Taos Pueblo Tribal Council
February 2022
A Case Study Comparison of Pandemic Impacts on Indigenous Groups in the Americas
Zuni Pueblo Tribal Council
February 2022
English for Researchers
Webinar: English for Researchers
October 24, 2021
Future proofing our curriculum
Space Studies and Strategic Applications
September 23, 2021
Bomberos, Maestros y Psicólogos (Firefighters, Teachers and Psychologists): Guatemalan civil society response to the Volcano of Fire Disaster in Guatemala
International Studies Association Annual Convention Globalization, Regionalism and Nationalism: Contending Forces in World Politics
April 8, 2021
Seguridad humana y Derechos Indigenas
FUNDAMAYA- Fundación Familia Maya - Formación y Capacitación
November 26, 2020
Mentorship and Encouraging Resilience
Teaching Excellence Summit
October 13, 2020
Exploring the Digital Divide
NAEP & APU 2020 Webinar 2 World Habitat Day
October 5, 2020
Bomberos, Maestros y Psicólogos: Guatemalan civil society response to the Volcano of Fire Disaster in Guatemala
Latin American Studies Association
May 24, 2019
Educating the Space Warriors: Partnering in the New Race for Space
35th Space Symposium
April 10, 2019
Information Technology Governance and Native Nations
wSTEM-AWIS club
February 28, 2019
Exploring the Digital Divide: Information Technology Governance and Native Nations
Brown Bag
December 04, 2017
Exploring the Digital Divide: Information Technology Governance and Native Nations
Dupont Summit
December 1, 2017
Tribal governance in the United States: Adaptation and Change from the viewpoint of Native Americans and Alaska Natives
Power of Rules and Rule of Power
April 5, 2017
Understanding Indigenous Governance: Building a Framework
International Studies Association Annual Conference
February 25, 2017
Off the beaten the path: A Case study of tourism and its impact on the indigenous population in Costa Rica
International Studies Association conference
March 19, 2016
In the Shadow of Canal: international norms, the environment, and human rights in Panama
ISA Annual Conference
March 27, 2014
Panama in the 21st century: Environmental, security, social, and political issues
MALAS
November 8, 2013
Time Management
Time Management Faculty Director Mini Series
July 2013
Game of Norms
MALAS Annual Conference 2012
October 20, 2012
Egypt: the Peaceful Revolution
April 7, 2011
Drugs, Thugs and Diablos Rojos: Perils and Progress in Panama
International Studies Association (ISA)
March 2011
Security of the Panama Canal
Student Honor Society
March 20, 2010
Media Contributions
Will a Deal to Buy Panamanian Ports Ease Tensions?
TheDialogue
March 13, 2025
Internet
Can the United States Take Over the Panama Canal?
TheDialogue
January 17, 2025
Internet
Our Pandemic Study Continues in Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico
APUS Edge
January 15, 2025
Social Media - Blog
Our COVID-19 Research Continues in Kodiak, Alaska: Part 2
APUS Edge
September 21, 2024
Social Media - Blog
Our COVID-19 Research Continues in Kodiak, Alaska: Part 1
APUS Edge
September 20, 2024
Social Media - Blog
Exploring the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Aftermath in Belize.
APU Edge
December 12, 2023
Social Media - Blog
Guatemala: A Struggle to Maintain Unlawful Political Power
APUS Edge
November 6, 2023
Social Media - Blog
Researching the COVID-19 Pandemic Experience in Guatemala
APUS Edge
April 17, 2023
Social Media - Blog
Presenting COVID-19 Field Research at the SECOLAS Conference
APU EDU Edge
April 9, 2023
Social Media - Blog
Faculty Continue COVID-19 Research: Belize and Guatemala
APU Edge
March 23, 2023
Social Media - Blog
Featured Q & A response
Inter-American Dialogues daily Latin America Advisor
November 17, 2022
Other
A COVID-19 Pandemic Study Continues in Southeast Alaska
APUS EDGE
August 22, 2022
Social Media - Blog
Pandemic Impact Study to Continue in Alaska during August
APUS EDGE
July 29, 2022
Social Media - Blog
COVID-19 Research: Studying Its Impact on Native Communities
AMU EDGE
May 5, 2022
Social Media - Blog
Education, Space and Employment: The Expanding Frontiers
In Space News
April 17, 2019
Social Media - Blog
Guatemalan Firefighters Respond to Volcanic Eruption with Sheer Will
In Public Safety
March 08, 2019
Social Media - Blog
On the Road Again: Exploring Information Technology with the Navajo Nation
In Cyberdefense
May 14, 2018
Social Media - Blog
Digital Nation: How the IT Revolution Leaves Native Nations Behind
December 20, 2017
Social Media - Blog
Learning about Tribal IT Capabilities in Alaska and Arizona
Online Learning Tips
June 23, 2017
Social Media - Blog
APUS Research Grant to Examine Tribal IT Capabilities in Alaska and Arizona
InCyberDefense
June 22, 2017
Social Media - Blog
Indigenous People of Costa Rica
Public Radio
February 12, 2016
Radio
Making Connections in the On-line classroom
July 15, 2014
Internet
How to Become Military Independent
Military1
March 2014
Internet
Certifications and Licensure
April 14, 2024
CITI - Social & Behavioral Research - Basic/Refresher
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)
April 16, 2021
CITI - Social & Behavioral Research - Basic/Refresher
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)
January 03, 2017
CITI - Social & Behavioral Research - Basic/Refresher
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)
Awards & Honors
July 15,
2022
Integrity Award
APUS
For those who practice fairness, honesty, and objectivity in serving students, faculty, or staff.
July 15,
2022
Unsung Leader Award
APUS
For those whose contributions to Academics come not from title, but from their hard work and their inspiration of others to become better leaders. This individual shows initiative, demonstrates motivation, and makes Academics a more inclusive organization.
May 27,
2022
Vision Award
APUS
For those who provide a transformative experience, creating learning experiences, student interfaces, degree programs, communities of learning, ease transfer credit, enhance affordability, build partnerships, and offer thought leadership to change higher education.
June 30,
2021
Outstanding Leadership
APUS
Sigma Iota Rho
June 16,
2021
2020 University Strategic Initiative – Catalyst – Learning Management System Migration
APUS
During 2020, the earner of this badge made significant contributions to the migration of courses to a new online classroom to improve user experience, promote student-to-student and faculty-to-student interaction, enable a robust mobile classroom, and further differentiate APUS as a leader in online learning.
June 16,
2021
Unsung Leader Award
APUS
For those whose contributions to Academics come not from title, but from their hard work and their inspiration of others to become better leaders. This individual shows initiative, demonstrates motivation, and makes Academics a more inclusive organization.
June 18,
2020
Outstanding Leadership
APUS
Sigma Iota Rho
June 28,
2019
Outstanding Leadership
APUS
Sigma Iota Rho
June 27,
2018
Outstanding Leadership
APUS
Sigma Iota Rho
June 2017
Outstanding Leadership
APUS
Sigma Iota Rho
June 28,
2017
Outstanding Leadership
APUS
In the Chapter Advisor, faculty and staff members are provided with a unique opportunity to develop professionally and make
significant contributions outside of their day-to-day role. As these positions are volunteers, we would like to recognize
Michelle’s commitment to the university’s mission, going above-and-beyond to make a difference on campus—and we hope
you will too!