Dr. Damon Williams

Dr. Damon A. Williams is a visionary and inspirational leader, and also one of the nation’s recognized experts in strategic diversity leadership, youth development, corporate responsibility, educational achievement, social impact, and organizational change.

He is a global thought leader having worked with more than 1,000 colleges and universities, Fortune 100 companies, foundations, and government agencies, as keynote speaker, strategist, educator, and social impact leader.

He received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan Center for the Study of Higher and Post-Secondary Education (CSHPE), where he specialized in the area of organizational behavior and management. He received his master’s degree in educational leadership and his bachelor’s degree in sociology and black world studies both from Miami University.

As the University of Michigan celebrates her 200-year anniversary, he was recently awarded the Bicentennial Leadership Award, a one-time honor given to 20 trailblazing alumni, who exemplify the best of the academic and leadership values of the Universities 200,000 living alumni. He is also the 2017 recipient of the Western Reserve Academy – Waring Prize, the highest alumni award presented by the prestigious boarding school founded in 1826, to recognize exceptional leadership achievements to improve the human condition.

In 2013, he was awarded the coveted Inclusive Excellence Award of Leadership from the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE), and a leadership commendation from the 13 research universities comprising the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) for his landmark contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy globally.

As Associate Vice Chancellor, Vice Provost, and Chief Diversity Officer, he founded the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Educational Achievement at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and served as a senior leader building the Division of Multicultural and International Affairs at the University of Connecticut, respectively. As scholar in residence for the American Council of Education (ACE) Fellows program and the American Association of Colleges and Universities Greater Expectations Institute, he launched his work nationally, helping hundreds of colleges and universities to transform their efforts in liberal education, STEM completion, improving student graduation rates, campus climate and inclusion, leadership development, faculty diversity, and curriculum reform.