Dr. Diamond D. Williams (she/her) is the inaugural Associate Dean for Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Nursing. Dr. Williams is a multifaceted public health leader known for her role in fostering organizational growth through thought leadership and innovation. She has a wealth of experience in community outreach and engagement, grant management, and program oversight. Her ability to proactively identify emerging needs within diverse populations and implement innovative solutions has allowed her to not only become a trusted advisor to the White House, providing valuable insights and guidance on community engagement strategies, but she was also honored in 2023 with the title Doctor of the Year by her colleagues and community members.
As an unwavering advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, Dr. Williams is deeply committed to the development and promotion of strategic, culturally relevant programs and policies that offer equitable opportunities to those most often forgotten about or marginalized. Previously, Dr. Williams played a pivotal role in overseeing the administration of one the largest statewide grants during the COVID-19 pandemic for the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services, which focused on vaccination health equity. She and her team invested $30.8 million to over 185 grantees across all 72 counties, especially in communities with high vaccine hesitancy, historical mistrust of government, and high rates of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations. In this role, she also expertly managed over 1,000 stakeholder relationships, facilitating collaborations among health systems, academic institutions, community-based organizations, and more. Beyond her work in advocating for equitable and effective local public health practices, Dr. Williams has skillfully managed grants and organizational budgets, totaling more than a quarter of a billion dollars, and continues to assist nonprofits in increasing their funding streams that support health programming. Some of her interests include sexual health, women’s health, and maternal and child, many of which have been a part of her previous academic research. She is a graduate of Howard University in Washington, DC, Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA, and Walden University in Minneapolis, MN. She is a proud and active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ® and the Wisconsin Public Health Association. Dr. Williams brings an infectious enthusiasm that fosters collaboration and teamwork, none of which is possible without the support of family and colleagues. She describes herself as an avid learner, community connector, people champion, and partner in health!