Randy Williams honored as a ‘Leader in Diversity’ by the Triad Business Journal

The Triad Business Journal has named Randy Williams to its inaugural class of Leaders in Diversity for his leadership and work to promote diversity and inclusion.

Williams, vice president and associate provost for inclusive excellence at Elon, was recognized in the “Top Diversity and Inclusion Officer” category by the regional business publication, which announced the honorees online this week and featured them in its July 2 print edition. Williams was one of just three in the region recognized in the category. Honorees were selected for their “leadership, commitment and motivation in driving the diversity agenda throughout the organization and the wider community.” Read Williams’ profile here.

Williams, who is also a professor of education, was selected to serve as the university’s chief diversity officer in July 2020, and his responsibilities include providing vision, leadership and coordination of university resources in accomplishing its inclusive excellence goals.

“Dr. Williams is a proven leader who has the experience and depth of knowledge to move Elon forward and inspire progress in making our university a place where people of all backgrounds and perspectives thrive and achieve their goals,” Book said when naming Williams to his current role in 2020. “He has been an integral part of Elon’s senior leadership team and has guided our ongoing progress to make substantive changes in the university’s policies, practices and culture.”

Williams joined Elon in 2014 as a presidential fellow, special assistant to the president and dean of multicultural affairs and was named associate vice president for campus engagement in 2016. Along with his role as an administrator, Williams teaches in the Master of Arts in Higher Education Program where he draws upon his scholarship interest in higher education equity, leadership and governance along with college student development.