Lisa N. Jefferson Williams

Dr. Lisa Williams is a career educator having held the position of teacher, mentor, university professor, and Title I director, and executive director of equity over her career in education. She has bachelors’ dgrees in biology and psychology, an M.A. in psychology, and a doctorate in Urban Educational Leadership with an emphasis in social policy. She has presented at the local, state, and national levels on topics related to improving outcomes for marginalized student populations. Her career in public education spans nearly 20 years. Her dissertation study examined Response to Intervention (RTI) and the performance of students attending Title I schools.

Dr. Williams is a consultant with the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE) as well as her independent company, EMCS. In her consulting work, she has provided guidance for schools and school systems in the areas of anti-racist organizational development, racial equity, gender equity in STEM, leading for equity, school transformation, and culturally responsive practices. Dr. Williams has served as a subject matter expert with the U.S. Department of Education Department of Career, Technical, and Adult Education division related to equitable access in STEM/CTE. She serves as a board president for Restorative Response Baltimore, an organization that provides guidance and support for Restorative Practices and Community Conferences to decrease violence and create inclusive environments across the Baltimore Metropolitan Area.

Over her career as a public school educator and administrator, systems transformation toward equitable access has been her focus. Toward that end, she has engaged in program creation (created two certificate programs in educational equity and cultural proficiency with two local Maryland Institutes for Higher Education) that help build staff capacity to actualize inclusive schooling behaviors. Her first book, When Treating All the Kids the Same Is the Real Problem (co-authored with Dr. Kendra Johnson) was published by Corwin in 2014. Dr. Williams is the proud mom of a son, Andrew, who is the daily inspiration for her work for all children.