Leadership

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A native Arkansan, Dr. Shannon D. Williams began to embrace the power of servant leadership at a young age. His grandmother, the late Frankie Bea Williams, cultivated his desire to serve. Although she never had vast means, she always modeled the need to serve and give back to others. As a result of the early teachings from his grandmother, he established The Williams Foundation in 2017. 

Dr. Williams graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with three bachelor's degrees—Speech Communication, Sociology, and Criminal Justice; and a Master of Arts Degree in Higher Education. He earned his Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Leadership Studies from the University of Central Arkansas. Dr. Williams is a Ronald E. McNair Scholar and the 2020 recipient of the Mid-South Educational Research Association's Outstanding Dissertation Award for research exploring the intersection of racial and leadership identity development among Black men. He is a certified CliftonStrengths Coach and a trained leadership coach. He is passionate about serving and advocating for nonprofits, communities, and underserved populations and strives to align his personal, professional, and research agenda with his passion.

In addition to his work with the foundation, Dr. Williams also serves through various other organizations. He is a re-charter member of the Eta Upsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, seated in Monticello, Arkansas, where he led efforts to initiate Alpha Honors, an annual awards gala that benefits local scholarships across Southeast Arkansas. Dr. Williams is a Past President of the Arkansas Academic Advising Network (ArkAAN). He is the co-founder of the Lakeside High School Class of 2006 Scholarship Initiative in Lake Village, which awards annual scholarships to youth pursuing post-secondary education. The initiative has awarded more than $10,000 in scholarships and was presented with a key to the City of Lake Village in 2016 for a decade of community philanthropy.