“Dr. Williams is a respected educator and academic professional,” said Howard provost and chief academic officer Dr. Anthony Wutoh. “I am confident that she will continue to demonstrate the same commitment and passion she has shown for our students and alma mater in her new role as Interim Dean of the Graduate School.”
Prior to joining the Howard faculty, Williams was a Ford Foundation postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University, a faculty fellow at the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute at Duke University and is a previous president of the College Language Association – the largest and oldest professional organization for professors of color who teach world languages.
“I am excited about the prospect of extending the legacy of scholar deans who are deeply invested in teaching and in fostering collegial relationships across the university,” Williams said. “It would be impossible to understate the importance of Howard at this moment in this nation’s history, especially Howard’s role as the producer of so many PhDs of color across all disciplines. This significance is not lost on me as I step into a long tradition of servant leadership at my alma mater.”
Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Grambling State University and a Master of Arts and doctoral degree in English from Howard University.