In addition to his work at ASU as associate vice chancellor for student affairs, Williams co-authored the book, Remembrances in black: Personal perspectives of the African American experience at the University of Arkansas, published in 2010 and co-owns and co-edits African American Perspectives magazine of Northeast Arkansas in its 7th year of publication. He is well-known across Arkansas for his efforts to improve the college experience and college going rate for minority students and has received more than 20 local, state and national awards and recognitions over the last 10 years.

Dr. Williams was recruited by the Academy Director, Dr. Rick Hux, to provide a motivational talk to the students in celebration of Black History Month. The College Preparatory Program for the Delta is a project to reduce the levels of postsecondary remediation for students entering college or other post-secondary career readiness programs who are at-risk and from a low Socioeconomic Status school district environment; with additional emphasis on marginalized males in the population.

The program, which is partially funded by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, is providing intensive educational interventions for students designed to increase graduation rates and reduce levels

of post-secondary remediation by addressing the significant remediation needs of students at the secondary level and preparing students for the rigors of higher education.

The CPAD project is a grades 9-16 collaborative initiative between Arkansas State University, the ASU Educational Renewal Zone, ANC College and the Blytheville School District. The academy provides intensive educational services both throughout the regular school year and during a two-week summer program. Students enter the Academy as 9th graders and continue through the 12th grade. High school teachers, along with guidance and support from professors at ASU, provide student centered, hands-on learning experiences in math, English, science reasoning (reading), and study skills/career awareness. When fully implemented in year six, up to 1152, 9th-12th grade students will be enrolled annually in the Academy.

Following the presentation, a student was overheard saying, “Someday, I want to do what he is doing.”