The Clinton School of Public Service is proud to announce that Dr. Charlotte Lewellen Williams has received Professor Emeritus status. The distinction, granted by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees in November 2025, honors her nearly two decades of transformative leadership, scholarship, and academic excellence.
The Clinton School celebrated this achievement during the Graduate Awards Reception on May 1 and the 20th Commencement Ceremony on May 2, where she joined colleagues to mark the historic graduation of the Class of 2026.
“Dr. Williams has been a cornerstone of the Clinton School faculty for nearly 20 years,” Dean Victoria DeFrancesco Soto said. “Her work in bridging public health, research, and leadership has left an important mark on our school. We are thrilled to see her life’s work recognized with this well-deserved honor.”
Reflecting on the distinction, the Jonesboro native expressed profound gratitude for her journey in higher education.
“My first thoughts are immense gratitude to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, President Jay Silveria, and Dean Victoria DeFrancesco Soto for this incredible honor,” Williams said. “I am so humbled by this, and it’s a moment that I don’t take lightly. As wonderful as retirement has been for me, receiving the conferral of professor emeritus is so much more, because it is a highly recognized career distinction that speaks for itself.”
Until her retirement in 2025, Williams served as a Professor of Public Health and the Founding Director of the Center on Community Philanthropy. Under her leadership, the center evolved into a multimillion-dollar unit, securing over $7 million in funding and integrating a reimagined concept of philanthropy into the academic setting.
Her legacy includes the establishment of the center’s Scholars in Residence program, the first national Community Healing Certification program, and the Advancing Equality Awards. She also forged deep community partnerships in Helena, Pine Bluff, and Blytheville, ensuring the school’s work had a tangible impact across the state of Arkansas.
A trailblazer in her field, Williams is a graduate of Howard University and earned both her Master of Public Health and Doctorate in Public Health from the UAMS College of Public Health.
Williams also co-authored the first book published by a Clinton School faculty member, “Passing the Torch: Planning for the Next Generation of Leaders in Public Service.” It is a theme she lived by daily, mentoring hundreds of students and serving on numerous boards, including the Arkansas Cancer Coalition and the UAMS Hospital Patient Advisory Council.
Named a 2024 “Woman to Watch” by Soiree Magazine, Williams’ additional honors include the Global Impact Award from the PEARLS Foundation. She continues to serve as an adjunct faculty member for UAMS, ensuring her vision and scholarship will inspire the next generation of public service leaders for years to come.