As societal and systemic challenges continue to intensify and as technology and artificial intelligence continue to expand and dramatically impact our way of life, the need for authenticity, liberation, and the human spirit in the construction and sharing of knowledge becomes more urgent. The old systems of teaching and learning must be replaced with sustainable communities of learning/practice where educators are clear on their values, their passions, and their purpose; where educators are aligned with their authentic and highest selves; and where educators are interacting with each other and their students from a place of freedom and authenticity. As higher education professionals, we must liberate our spirits if we hope to elevate our students’ minds.

Dr. Jeanine L. Williams is a higher education professional with over two decades of experience teaching, designing, and managing postsecondary literacy programs and courses. Positioned as a national leader who understands the challenges of faculty, staff, administrators, and students, she is a sought-after consultant who advises colleges and universities on issues of identity, cultural and linguistic diversity, culturally responsive teaching, critical literacy, and social justice. She threads these issues together to promote literacy and learning – ensuring that all students are provided with experiences that are research-based, theoretically sound, relevant, and equitable. The impact of Dr. Williams’ work in program and curricular redesign, and faculty training has been felt in postsecondary literacy and learning arenas throughout the nation and across the globe. Consequently, she is a highly respected thought leader who has delivered dozens of webinars, keynote addresses, and conference presentations. She has also authored numerous scholarly publications and held leadership positions in several professional organizations. 

Over the past two years, Dr. Williams experienced a major awakening in her professional life. Despite having what many would perceive as a highly successful career, she felt burned out and disillusioned by the ways in which higher education was changing. She became aware that student success was dwindling because higher education professionals, herself included, were being asked to work in ways that compromised their integrity and diminished their humanity. She realized that advocacy for higher education professionals was need just as much as, and in some ways more than, advocacy for students. This realization led her to get clear on her values, her purpose, and her passion. It led her to align herself spiritually, intellectually, and financially with what she truly desires. And it led her to reorganize her professional identity and practice so that she can live and work in ways that honor her integrity and humanity.

This awakening is evidenced in her new vision for Williams Higher Ed which focuses on creating and sustaining authentic, spiritually aligned, liberating communities of learning/practice within higher education. It is Dr. Williams’ mission through Williams Higher Ed to help higher education professionals clarify their values, passion, and purpose; align with their authentic and highest selves; and recreate and flow in their professional practice from place of freedom and authenticity. As Dr. Williams continues in higher education, her work will emphasize the importance of authenticity, liberation, and the human spirit.

Dr. Williams has a PhD in Language, Literacy, and Culture; an EdS in Educational Leadership and Administration; a MSEd in Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Development; and a BA in Psychology. She is a native of Philadelphia, PA, and currently resides in the DC Metro Area with her three teenagers. She is a world traveler who also enjoys hiking, yoga, meditation, tarot, and journaling. She is currently studying herbal and ancestral medicine and she also recently launched Ancestors Bosom, a community devoted to reconnecting with ancestral wisdom and ways of life.