University News

Williams Named Interim Vice President for Student Services

January 8, 2016

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MACOMB, IL -- Ronald Williams, assistant vice president for academic affairs at Western Illinois University, has been appointed as the interim vice president for student services at Western, effective Jan. 11, according to President Jack Thomas.

Williams has served as assistant vice president for academic affairs since July 2008. In that role, he provides direction and leadership for various areas within academic affairs; collaborates with deans, departmental chairpersons, school directors and faculty to assist with academic program development and expansion; oversees the University Advising and Academic Services Center and the Office of Academic Services; maintains articulation agreements and 2+2 programs and fosters collaborative relationships with community colleges; and directs summer school and academic aspects of commencement exercises. As the chief diversity officer for the division of academic affairs, he is responsible for the development and implementation of initiatives designed to support the diversification of faculty and staff, and he serves as the University representative for the Illinois Board of Higher Education Diversifying Faculty Initiative Program.

He also directs the underrepresented dissertation fellowship and visiting professorate programs and other academic diversity initiatives. As the primary academic affairs liaison to student services, he contributes to the development plans for enrollment management, new student orientation and registration and student development and success. Additionally, he manages budgets and processes for select campus activities and initiatives involving academic affairs; assists with scheduling of courses between the Macomb and Quad cities campuses; handles student complaints for the Provost's Office; teaches courses in the College Student Personnel program within the Department of Educational Studies and conducts scholarly research/activities in a broad range of topics in higher education.

Previously, he was the director for post-secondary education authorization at the Tennessee Higher Education Commission in Nashville, TN, and was the assistant director for post-secondary education authorization from 2002-2005. Williams has also served as an educational program specialist for the commission and as coordinator of scholarship programs and as assistant to the director of student financial aid at Lane College in Jackson, TN.

"The Division of Student Services provides stellar activities and programs that enhance the academic mission of Western Illinois University. Student affairs complements our academic mission of engaging our students in educational opportunities, and Dr. Williams' experience in both academic and student affairs will further benefit our students," Thomas added. "Under the leadership of Dr. Williams and our outstanding student services staff, we will continue to provide exemplary co-curricular experiences for our students."

Williams received his doctorate and his master's degree in educational administration from Tennessee State University and his bachelor's degree in business administration from Lane College.


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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