English professor, activist takes job in Kansas City

Jeffrey Williams was a very involved member of the MU community.

By Katie Moritz

Published March 17, 2009

Jeffrey Williams, an English professor at MU and a visible figure in municipal politics, relocated last week to Kansas City.

Williams changed schools to serve as the vice president of higher education at Kauffman Scholars Inc. in Kansas City. The scholarship program helps urban youth obtain a college education. Williams became acquainted with the program as director of Access and Urban Outreach on the MU campus.

The program reaches out to students from seventh grade through high school. The students are provided with life and academic coaches.

"The aim is to help students overcome obstacles that poor students encounter," Williams said. "As vice president, I'll be responsible for the collegiate mentoring academy."

Williams said he will build relationships with the colleges the students in the program will eventually attend.

As a doctorate student at MU, he realized his voice made a difference.

Williams said his motivation to become involved in the Columbia community snowballed when he returned to the city in 2000 as a professor at MU. In 2001, Williams got involved with the Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Columbia program.

"Columbia is a place where you can make your voice count," Williams said.

Williams was president of the Minority Men's Network from 2003 to 2006. The group focuses on needs and issues of Columbia's minority community.

"These things gave me a vantage point from which to be involved with various issues," Williams said.

Williams has served on Columbia's Vision Committee and was the co-chairman for the Citizen Oversight Committee.

The Vision Committee is responsible for creating ongoing plans for development in Columbia. The committee takes citizens' opinions in consideration while developing vision plans.

The Citizen Oversight Committee was formed to better understand the Columbia Police Department's system for reviewing complaints and the opinions of CPD officers. The committee also seeks citizen opinions and looks into systems of citizen oversight.

Mayor Darwin Hindman, who chose Williams for the Citizen Oversight Committee, said Williams offered "a levelheaded and evenhanded voice" within the organizations in which he was involved.

Williams brought the perspective of a professor and minority to the table, Hindman said.

Mizzou Alumni Association Advocacy Director Dianne Drainer, who worked on the Imagine Columbia's Future Project with Williams, as well as serving as co-chairperson of the Visioning Committee with him, valued the time she spent working with the professor.

"Jeff is very committed to the projects he worked on and is a very dedicated individual," Drainer said.

Although Drainer said she and others who worked with Williams will miss him, she is excited about his new position.

"I'm very happy for him," Drainer said. "What he's being given as an opportunity is pretty incredible and I wish him well."

Williams has fond memories from his time in Columbia. He said his proudest achievement was working with Minority Achievement Committee Scholars summer academy, combining both his work in Columbia and on the MU campus. The MAC Scholars program addressed achievement disparities in Columbia public schools.

Williams said he doesn't have any regrets about his time spent in Columbia.

Although he is moving on to new things in Kansas City, Williams is leaving a legacy of kindness and constructive ideas for Columbia.

"I thank him for what he's done and we're going to miss him," Hindman said.