Dr. Charlotte Lewellen Williams, Professor of Public Health and Director of the Center on Community Philanthropy, will retire in August after nearly two decades with the Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas. As a faculty member and in her role leading the Center, Williams has worked tirelessly to advance initiatives impacting public health, leadership development, and philanthropic innovation.
She describes her guiding philosophy as, “I believe in generosity at the community level and I see giving as more than just dollars. It’s time, talent, and treasure combined together to advance the good of all.”
The power of community has inspired Williams throughout her life and career. Raised in close-knit Jonesboro, Arkansas, she saw how life experience and local ideas could influence advocacy and policy. After living in the vibrant cities of New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., she felt called to return to her Arkansan roots.
Beginning nineteen years ago, Williams developed and managed key projects of the Center on Community Philanthropy that focus on community-driven solutions and programs dedicated to eliminating disparities and promoting social fairness. As a champion of creating communities where all people can thrive, she launched the Center in its core work areas of Leadership, Scholarship/Research, and Convening. Since 2007, Williams has secured and administered over $7.1 million dollars to support the Center’s work.
In addition to her foundational work, she established the Center’s Scholars in Residence program, two philanthropy leadership courses, and the first national Community Healing Certification program. Other initiatives created under her leadership include the Advancing Equality Awards and numerous community partnerships in Helena, Pine Bluff, and Blytheville.
The Center’s mission weaves a reimagined concept of philanthropy into an academic setting, aspiring to be on the forefront of encouraging new thought leaders and positive change-makers to advance a practice of community philanthropy. The threads added by Williams included skills learned as an undergraduate at Howard University and from her work experience after college. The next threads woven in were her master’s degree and doctoral degree in public health from the University of Arkansas for Medical School Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health – the first Black woman to achieve this milestone. And finally, her connections with students, community members, policymakers, and local and national leaders completed this fine tapestry.
Williams’ research in public health and philanthropy has appeared in peer-reviewed journals, including the Harvard Journal of African American Public Policy, Foundation Review, Journal of Communication, and Academic Medicine. Her research interests include equality justice, civic engagement, advancing fairness, and community philanthropy. In the book Passing the Torch: Planning for the Next Generation of Leaders in Public Service, Williams and co-author Karl Besel addressed succession planning – a perennial challenge for leaders in the nonprofit sector.
In 2024, Williams was named a “Woman to Watch” by Soirée magazine, recognizing her civic leadership and enduring impact on the philanthropic and public service landscapes. Her additional honors include receiving the Global Impact Award from the PEARLS Foundation and serving as the Keynote Speaker for the inaugural Festival of Philanthropy. She also served on the Arkansas Cancer Coalition Advisory Board and UAMS Hospital Patient Advisory Council, among other volunteer commitments.
“Dr. Charlotte Williams has been a cornerstone of the Clinton School’s academic community for nearly 20 years,” said Dean Victoria M. DeFrancesco Soto. “In that time, she’s been an exceptional educator, a passionate advocate for public service, and a mentor to countless students and colleagues. We thank her for her extraordinary service and wish her the best in the next chapter of her life.”
As Williams passes the torch to new leaders at the Center for Community Philanthropy, she will continue to illuminate and address important issues and initiatives, guided by her steadfast belief that sustainable philanthropy is driven by those who receive it. While she is stepping away from her formal role, Williams leaves a lasting legacy of vision, scholarship, and community change. Her contributions to the Clinton School of Public Service, the University of Arkansas, and the broader field of community philanthropy will continue to inspire students, colleagues, and community leaders.
Dr. Williams – you are a leader of leaders! Thank you for your example – cultivated with grace and wisdom. Your time of service is impactful and the legacy will continue through all of your students and communities you’ve impacted.