Randy Williams

In July 2020, Randy became the Vice President and Associate Provost for Inclusive Excellence at Elon University, serving as a member of the university president’s leadership team. Randy is the senior leader of the university’s efforts to actualize its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and intercultural learning. In this role, he works with and through vice presidents, academic deans, and other colleagues to enhance the educational experience for all community members. Randy is passionately student-centered in all his duties.

Previously as the Associate Vice President for Campus Engagement, Randy’s areas of responsibility were in three university divisions: Student Life, Academic Affairs, and University Advancement. This senior administrator role allowed Randy to strengthen Elon’s role as the national leader in high-impact practices and engaged learning. He served on and often chaired university-level projects that were derived from thoughtful discussions among colleagues and students. His engagement with Academic Affairs and Student Life topics enabled him to understand issues and contribute to collaborations across units. He used this knowledge to cultivate relationships with donors, leading to philanthropy that supports student success. The Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education reported to Randy, and you would often find him meeting with students to maintain an understanding of their needs and help ensure their awareness of Elon’s resources.

Randy also has academic affiliation with the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education as an associate professor. He teaches in the Master of Arts in Higher Education Program, positioning him to act on his scholarship interests in higher education equity, leadership, governance, and college student development. The roles of administrator and faculty inform each other and make Randy an effective educator.

Before Elon, Randy was Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at North Carolina Wesleyan College, Assistant Dean of Students at the College of William & Mary, and before that position, the Associate Dean of Students at Hampden-Sydney College. Among Randy’s professional affiliations are a Review Committee Chair role with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and a member of the Board of Directors for the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). Randy’s education includes a Ph.D. degree in Educational Policy, Planning and Leadership from the College of William & Mary, an M.S. degree in Counselor Education from Longwood University, and a B.S. degree in Physics from Hampden-Sydney College.