Dr. Monica Williams

Dr. Monica Williams

Vice President of University Advancement

Department: 
Division of University Advancement
Office: 
FH 121
Education: 
  1. Ph.D., Educational Leadership, Prairie View A&M
  2. M.A., Texas Southern
  3. B.A.,Texas Southern
Biography: 

UNT Dallas Vice President for University Advancement, Dr. Monica G. Williams has more than 25 years administrative and leadership experience in non-profit and educational sectors.  She also serves as President & CEO of the UNT Dallas Foundation.  Dr. Williams is responsible for leading the university’s efforts in fundraising, alumni affairs, external relations, marketing/communications and sponsored research.  An accomplished fundraiser and passionate advocate for the underrepresented, Dr. Williams has devoted the majority of her career to social services and the advancement of underserved communities by raising money to support an array of worthy causes.   Since arriving at UNT Dallas in July 2016, Dr. Williams has raised more than $10 million in private philanthropy and has lead the team that increased the research grant portfolio by $35+ million.  In the last two years, she has taken on the responsibility of increasing retention of first-generation students who need more resources and growing the Caruth Police Institute from a local to statewide platform attracting significant resources toward eventually improving best practices in policing nationwide.
 
Before joining UNT Dallas, Dr. Williams was Founding Managing Director of Community Partnerships for the United States Fund for UNICEF where she led the organization’s efforts to create awareness around the plight of children living in impoverished nations.  It was at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF that she worked to build organizational capacity and develop strategies for significant partnerships with diaspora groups in the United States.  Her fundraising efforts have generated more than $150 million in support for multiple institutions of higher education and other well—respected not-for-profit organizations.   She began her professional career as a high school English teacher and later held leadership positions at Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc., the Brown Schools, Neighborhood Centers Inc., Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M University, Rice University and HoustonWorks USA. 
 
Among her most celebrated accomplishments are serving her church as a lifetime board member and being one of the co-founders of the Women’s Leadership Summit, started by The Hon. Helen Giddings and an esteemed network of African-American women.
 
A native Houstonian who was born in Dallas, Dr. Williams holds a B.A. in Journalism and an M.A. in Communications from Texas Southern University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Prairie View A & M University.  She is a proud mother and grandmother.