A Q&A with Student Success’ Angela Williams

Angela Williams, Ed.D., GCDF
Teaching Assistant Professor 
in the Office of Student Success at Fulbright College

In this conversation, Williams talks about the joy of helping so many students succeed both in their lives and vocations after college; her experiences in academic support and career services as well as in launching and teaching the U of A’s new Professional ePortfolio courses; the importance of fostering a sense of belonging, especially for at-risk students, and making sure her students always know how much she cares about their overall well-being; and her love of singing, spending time with family, reading great books, and writing poetry.

Tell us a little about your research, academic passions and/or role within the college. What excites you about this?

I have spent the last 30 years of my career working in higher education in academic support and career services. I am currently a Teaching Assistant Professor in the U of A’s Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences.

I have also served in multiple key roles at the university including working in Student Support Services as an academic counselor and later its director, as director of the University Career Development Center, and most recently as assistant vice chancellor and executive director of the center. 

I also previously worked as an academic advisor at the University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Florida.

I transitioned to a faculty role for the Fulbright College in November 2021. In my current role, I teach career courses that help students set career goals, successfully search and prepare for internships, full-time positions or get accepted to graduate or professional schools.

I also teach Professional ePortfolio courses which help students to demonstrate career readiness and mastery of U of A learning outcomes. While transcripts are the primary tool for demonstrating students’ outcomes, an ePortfolio really allows an employer or graduate school to see the full picture of who they are and what they are going to bring to the table.

I also serve as an Instructor Coach whose primary role is to foster a sense of belonging for at-risk students by helping them navigate campus, locate and use campus resources, find and build communities within campus that best fit their interests and needs, advocate for themselves, and experience college success.

How long have you been at Fulbright College? What have you enjoyed most about your time here?

I have worked for the college for nearly a year and a half. I have enjoyed working with the Fulbright College Student Success team, teaching my courses, and being able to assist so many students to navigate the process of discovering their career paths and achieving their career goals.  

What do you most hope your students remember from their classes and/or interactions with you?

I mostly hope they know that I care about their overall well-being, and academic and career success.

I try to listen to their stories to learn about their lives and what made them who they are.

I attempt to inspire their confidence by encouraging them to try new career success strategies and to be proud to share the stories of what made them who they are.

When students know you care about them personally, they are more likely to connect with you and share what they are experiencing in life. These connections have been transformative for me and the students with whom I engage.

And, according to research, few factors in education have a more significant impact on a student’s educational experience than a caring relationship with his or her instructor.

What do you like to do during your time outside of the university?

I love to sing, spend time with my family, read great books, and write poetry.

What’s up next on the horizon for you?

I am currently working on completing the fourth of four courses to receive a full Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) Certificate in Effective College Instruction, endorsed by the American Council on Education (ACE).

This micro-credential includes successful completion of modules aligned to ACUE’s Effective Practice Framework. Certificate holders demonstrate knowledge of and skill in implementing teaching practices that promote student achievement. Certificate holders typically have invested approximately 12.5 hours per micro-credential to meet course requirements.

Later this semester, I will be attending a one-month virtual workshop to learn Life Design Strategies which can be integrated into the career classes I teach to help students from any major develop a constructive and effective approach to finding and designing their lives and vocations after college.

I will also continue to serve on the ePortfolio institute Team, to help to assist with the implementation and launch of ePortfolios campus-wide at the U of A.

Do you have any social media accounts you’d like for us to tag you in when this story posts?

I’m on Facebook.