An experienced and inclusive servant-leader in higher education with a proven track record of improving student retention and success, Dr. Nakeshia Williams has worked over two decades as an administrator, researcher, professor, and mental health practitioner in higher education, PK-12 educator, and in local communities. As an interdisciplinary scholar, her research has centered on PK-20 equity, teacher preparation, urban education, higher education, diversity and inclusion in PK-20 education.

She uses her experience to establish and implement best practices to enhance communication, bridge build between and among different groups, and effectively design a holistic blueprint for engaging, retaining, and thriving of diverse students as globally conscious, socially responsible, and civically engaged leaders. As a growth-minded, culturally responsive servant-leader, she cultivates a transformative experience by remaining student-centered, faculty- and staff-focused, while using authentic, meaningful, and engaged leadership to grow strong organizations via continual improvement process, data empowerment, and strategic change visioning and planning.

Her experience and focus on higher education administration is related to student success and retention; student affairs and engagement; diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; accreditation and institutional reporting and review; academic program revision; comprehensive operational efficiency and effectiveness; and grant-writing. A systems thinker and thought leader in higher education, she is a solution-focused, results-oriented leader that assumed various leadership roles in higher education administration.