Ereka R. Williams, PhD, is Dogwood Health Trust’s Vice President – Education, bringing more than 20 years of teaching, scholarship and leadership to the organization. Her work is grounded in the belief that philanthropy has the power to responsibly address systemic issues with root causes intricately tied to history. She strives to leverage resources and build collaborations that accelerate educational opportunity, especially for those generationally pushed to the margins or underserved.

Prior to Dogwood, Dr. Williams served as Associate Provost for Academic Strategy and Institutional Effectiveness at Winston-Salem State University. Earlier still, as Associate Dean of Education, Quality Assurance and Community Engagement and Associate Dean of Education at Fayetteville State University (FSU), she led curriculum revisions, resource restructuring, created teacher residency models and initiated regional and national partnerships that strengthened quality assurance systems for teacher education programs. Today, Dr. Williams’ work ensures philanthropic investments and partnerships that are relevant, responsive, effective, fair and equitable for the people of Western North Carolina.

Dr. Williams has served as a coach, speaker, researcher, board member and reviewer for rural and urban schools across the midwest, northeast and southeastern US. Her research, publications and presentations focus on equity, diversity, assessment, accreditation and leadership. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.