Dr. Markenya L. Williams is a Chicagoan with great Southside pride. She has been an educator since 2005 and is an active member of the NAACP and NAN, a proud Board Member of the Illinois Principals Association (Kishwaukee Region) & Burst Into Books Inc. (Chicago). Dr. Williams is an Assistant Professor and one of the inaugural Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Faculty Fellows at Harper College. Furthermore, Dr. Williams has held multiple positions and titles throughout her career: teacher’s assistant, teacher, grade level team leader, private tutor, preschool site director, technology coordinator, Local School Council (LSC) member, PBIS coach, attendance team leader, MTSS co-coordinator, assistant principal, diversity & equity chairperson, consultant and much more.

Dr. Williams firmly believes that individuals from underrepresented and historically marginalized communities can succeed with adequate resources, experiences, and committed stakeholders who believe in high expectations, self-reflection, continuous self-improvement and institutional reconstruction.

Dr. Williams holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from DePaul University, a master's in Curriculum and Instruction and a bachelor's in Board of Governors from Chicago State University, and an associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Richard J. Daley College. Additionally, Dr. Williams holds valid Illinois Professional Educator Licenses in Early Childhood Education (Type 04) and General Administration (Type 75). Dr. Williams' additional research interests include: curriculum gaps in teacher education programs, the impact of equity-centered higher education leaders, racialized trauma and healing strategies and transformational diversity, equity and inclusion practices in higher education.