CLC names Williams chief academic officer

Sonya Williams, Ph.D., has joined the College of Lake County as vice president of education and chief academic officer.

Williams is responsible for long-term planning, budgeting and working with her team to provide leadership and guidance to the academic unit of the college.

Williams comes to CLC from Joliet Junior College, where she was dean of the arts and sciences division and provided mentoring and long-term strategic planning while assisting faculty in instructional planning. She also developed the division budget, recommended improvements in curriculum, helped assess student learning outcomes, oversaw staff development and ensured efficient use of physical space. Previously, Williams held leadership roles at Oklahoma City Community College, where she served as director and chair of the science department and later became dean of the chemistry and biological sciences division.

A native of Norman, Okla., Williams graduated from the University of Oklahoma, where she earned a B.S. in zoology and a Ph.D. in anatomical sciences and cell biology/neurosciences. Her postdoctoral training includes three years at the Yale School of Medicine, where she studied neurobiology, reproduction and immunology.

A captain in the U.S. Air Force, she served as section commander and information management officer for three squadrons. She also received service medals for Operation Desert Shield and Storm War campaigns.