Rochelle Williams

Senior Director of Programs, National Society for Black Engineers

Rochelle L. Williams, Ph.D. is an engineer, educator, and advocate for equitable work environments in STEM professions. As the Senior Director of Programs at the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), she is the chief programs officer responsible for ensuring the society fulfills its mission to increase the number of Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community. She frequently delivers workshops and presentations centered on mitigating systemic barriers that prevent the full participation of traditionally marginalized persons. Since 2012, she has worked as a subject-matter expert for the National Science Foundation on issues regarding cultures of inclusion, broadening participation, and university education programs. Having received her B.S. in physics from Spelman College and her M.E. in Mechanical Engineering and Ph.D. in Science and Mathematics Education from Southern University and A&M College, Dr. Williams intentionally promotes the excellence and innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Matching Videos

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On-Demand Presentations

Women of Color in Conversation

01:03:41

Release Date: 08/24/2020, Barbara Krauthamer, Rochelle Williams, Charlotte Roh

The lack of diversity at the top of pretty much every profession is well documented, and scholarly communications is no exception. Compared with the number of women who work in our community overall, there are woefully few leaders, and people of color are further underrepresented at all levels. Women of color who are leaders are even more of a rarity, and they experience challenges in the workplace, distinct from those that white women or men of any race face. To address these myriad issues, we have brought together several women of color who are accomplished leaders in their fields for a roundtable discussion. Topics will include how they navigated perceived bias in the workplace, advocated for themselves, and built networks of mentors and sponsors. We aim to make connections between the lived experience of the speakers and what organizations can do to foster inclusive workplace cultures supportive of women of color.