In this Q&A, Williams expands on how the Bezos Family Foundation’s funding will help the university further position itself as a leader in educational research and continue to empower the next generation of scholars and educators.  

Q: What impact will a gift of this size have on research education at Howard, and what programs or infrastructure improvements can Bison expect? 

A: A gift of this size is transformational for the School of Education. It allows us to accelerate work that might otherwise take years to develop. It expands our capacity to support high quality, equity-centered research — particularly projects focused on improving educational outcomes for historically marginalized communities. We will be able to strengthen our research infrastructure through investments in faculty support, data systems, and the creation of a research lab. Students will see new opportunities for hands on research training and mentorship. Ultimately, this gift helps us create an environment where both faculty and students have the tools they need to produce impactful, nationally visible, scholarship. 

Q: This year you were elected to serve on both American Education Research Association (AERA) and Council of Academic Deans from Research Education Institutions (CADREI). How have your positions in these organizations impacted your work as dean? What role do you see these orgs. playing in education research? 

AERA and CADREI play essential roles in advancing rigorous scholarship, promoting equity in education research, and ensuring that policy is informed by evidence. They also create pathways for collaboration and visibility — both of which are critical for institutions like Howard that are expanding their research footprint. 

Serving in leadership roles within both AERA and CADREI has broadened my perspective and strengthened my ability to advocate for Howard and our HBCU peers on the national stage. These organizations bring together leaders from across the country who are shaping the direction of education research and educator preparation. I am positioned to see the emerging trends and share best practices on approaches to issues that matter deeply to HBCUs and the communities we serve. 

Q: Howard’s research output has greatly increased the past few years, to the point of reaching R1 status. How have you seen this affect the School of Education? Are there any particular research projects or new programs you’d like to highlight? 

A: Reaching R1 status has energized our faculty and students which has elevated the expectations, visibility, and opportunities for the School of Education in transformative ways. It has sharpened our focus on research productivity, expanded our capacity for external partnerships, and increased our competitiveness for major federal and philanthropic grants. One example of this momentum is the HBCU Education Deans Summit, which I founded and convene annually. The summit has grown and become a platform for research collaboration, policy dialogue, and multi-institution capacity building across HBCUs.

A second initiative I’m particularly proud to highlight is the Ujima Collective: Building Research Capacity at HBCUs. Led by Dr. Kimberley Freeman, this project brings together five HBCUs to design, pilot, and assess a scalable model that trains HBCU faculty and staff in the business and science of research. It is a powerful example of how Howard’s new R1 designation can be leveraged to uplift our broader ecosystem — strengthening research infrastructure, enhancing grant readiness, and cultivating a future pipeline of investigators who will shape the next generation of scholarship. Collectively, these efforts, along with our faculty’s growing portfolio of funded research, demonstrate how R1 status is not just a designation for Howard, but a catalyst for meaningful and collaborative scholarship across the landscape of education and psychoeducational studies.

Q: What limitations to the university’s education research infrastructure remain, and how do gifts like this help in addressing them? 

A: As the third active group of principal investigators within Howard University, the School of Education is riding this wave of progress and innovation while recognizing where our research infrastructure needs strengthening. Some key areas include, additional capacity for large scale data management, more dedicated research space, increased staffing to support grant development, and expansion in funding for doctoral students to sustain our research enterprise. 

The gift from the Bezos Family Foundation will allow us to begin closing these gaps more rapidly. 

Q: You’ve nicknamed this American Education Week “Bison Education Week.” What to you makes Howard unique in the field of education and education research? 

A: Howard has a distinct and powerful legacy in shaping the nation’s educators and education researchers. What sets us apart is our longstanding commitment to producing scholars and practitioners who not only excel academically but who understand education as a vehicle for social transformation. Our faculty approach education through a lens of justice, community engagement, and cultural responsiveness. We prepare educators who can thrive in diverse settings and who are committed to improving outcomes for students. “Bison Education Week” is a celebration of that legacy.  

A highlight of this week is a Fireside Chat, “From the Yard to the Classroom: The Making of Award-Winning Educators,” featuring the current and former D.C. Teacher of the Year, both Howard alumni. That combination — nationally recognized educators, cutting edge scholarship, culturally grounded pedagogy, and a mission centered approach — is what makes “Bison Education Week” more than a celebration. It reflects Howard’s unique role as an institution that not only studies education but shapes the future of it.