“I believe in integrating life lessons,” says Williams, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville (UTK). “I’m real and transparent about who I am, where I came from, and why education is important and connected to everything. I like to entertain and use stories and incorporate relevant things in the media and music. I try to make it as fun as possible.”
In the process, Williams intentionally defies stereotypes about what a college professor looks like.
“I want first and foremost for people to see me and say, ‘He’s not a professor,’” he says. “I want to change the narrative. Anybody can do this. It’s not about how you look or a certain background.”
Williams had not considered a career teaching in a post-secondary setting until a department chair at DePaul University told him that he liked the way Williams presented himself and urged Williams to think about it.
Williams, whose sights were set on top business executive positions and consulting, thought professors were “corny” and questioned whether they made much money.
Dr. James Williams
