Biography

Ciara J. Williams is the Assistant Dean for the Office of Academic Innovation & Student Success in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University. Her work focuses on expanding access to experiential and global learning opportunities that prepare students to engage and lead in an increasingly interconnected world.

Ciara leads the College’s globalization initiatives, overseeing both long- and short-term study abroad partnerships and working with faculty, university leadership, and international institutions to expand global learning opportunities for COAS students. She also oversees the College’s COAS 890 faculty-led study abroad courses. When she assumed leadership of the program in 2024, the College offered four COAS 890 courses. Under her leadership, the program has grown to 18 courses in Spring 2026 and is projected to reach approximately 30 courses by 2027—significantly expanding the number and range of international experiences available to students. 

A key priority of Ciara’s globalization work is reducing financial and logistical barriers to international participation. She leads the College’s annual Passport Drive initiative, providing hundreds of COAS students with U.S. passports at no cost each year and helping students take the first step toward participating in international education opportunities. 

Ciara’s broader work in academic innovation and student success includes transforming the College of Arts and Sciences scholarship process through an online application system that reduced processing time by 75% and significantly improved application organization, while expanding students' access to donor-funded scholarships and financial support. 

Prior to joining Howard University, Ciara began her career in education with Prince George’s County Public Schools before transitioning to higher education. As Director of Professional Pathways at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, she led the LEAD Professional Pathways initiative, embedding career exploration and experiential learning into students’ academic and extracurricular experiences. She also developed and strengthened partnerships with faculty, alumni, and industry leaders to expand opportunities for student engagement and professional development. 

A proud native of Prince George’s County, Maryland, Ciara earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from Spelman College and a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Morgan State University. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate at Morgan State University. Her work is grounded in a commitment to making high-impact and global educational experiences more accessible to students and ensuring that they graduate prepared to contribute and lead in a global society. 

Ciara lives by the timeless words of Dr. Maya Angelou: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”