Professor of Psychology and Women’s Studies;
Chair, Psychology Department
Contact Information
Frost Building, 207
CPO 1973
Email: williamsw@berea.edu
Phone: 859-985-3629
Fall 2020

Office Hours
Wed: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Class Schedule
- PSY/WGS 230
Degrees
- Ph.D., Social Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz, 2005
- M.S., Social Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, 1999
- B.A., Psychology, Minor in Peace & Conflict Studies, Swarthmore College , 1997
Honors and Awards
- Appalachian College Association Faculty Fellowship (2018-2019)
- Visiting Fellow, St. Catherine’s College, University of Oxford (Fall 2018)
- Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects Program, Berea College (Summer 2017)
- Summer Research Institute, Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford (Summer 2017)
- “Distinguished Service” Award, SPSSI, Division 9 of APA (2017)
- Participant in the Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology, APA (2017-2018)
- Service Learning Faculty Fellow, Berea College (2015-2017)
- “Emerging Leadership in Psychology” Award, Committee on Socioeconomic Status, American Psychological Association (2014)
- Student Government Association “Service to Students” Award, Berea College (2012)
- Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects Program (URCPP) Award, Berea College (2012)
- Faculty Summer Research Award, Marshall University (2010, 2006)
- MU-ADVANCE Faculty Fellowship, Marshall University (2009, 2008, 2007)
- Grant-In-Aid Dissertation Award, Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (2004)
- Pickens-Queen Teaching Award, Marshall University (2008-2009)
- Outstanding Teaching Assistant, Psychology Department, UCSC (2004-2005)
Affiliations
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP), Division 8 of APA
- Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI), Division 9 of APA
- Association for Women in Psychology, Division 35 of the APA
- Sigma Xi, Scientific Research Honor Society
- Psi Chi, Psychology Honor Society
- Phi Kappa Phi, Scientific Research Honor Society
Papers and Publications
- Kite, M., Case, K. A., & Williams, W. R. (Eds.) (in press). Navigating Difficult Moments in Teaching Diversity and Social Justice. American Psychological Association: Washington, DC.
- Williams, W. R. (2019). Considering Carnegie in the time of Trump: A science and policy agenda. Journal of Social Issues, 75(1), 356-382. doi: 10.1111/josi.12303
- Williams, W. R., & Cabiles, J. J. B. (2016). Psychologists’ role in contextualizing America’s history of classism. [Review of the book White Trash: The 400-Year Untold Story of Class in America]. PsycCRITIQUES, 61(50). http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0040650
- Williams, W. R. (2016, October). The free-tuition debate: Promises and possibilities. The SES Indicator, 9(3). Available at http://www.apa.org/pi/ses/resources/indicator/2016/10/free-tuition.aspx
- Williams, W.R. (2014, December). No yellow tickets: The stigma of poverty in the school lunch line. In C. Collins, J. Ladd, & F. Yeskel (Eds.). Class Lives: Stories from across our economic divide. New York: Cornell University Press.
- Williams, W.R. & Melchiori, K.M (2014). Class Action: How experiential learning can raise awareness of social class privilege. In K.A. Case (Ed.) Pedagogy of Privilege: Teaching and Learning as Allies in the Classroom (pp.169-187). New York: Routledge.
- Williams, W.R. (2014). Class. In T. Teo (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology (pp. 239-244). New York: Springer.
- Williams, W.R. & Limbert, W.M. (2014). Classism. In T. Teo (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology (pp. 244-249). New York: Springer.
- Williams, W. R., & Carter, K. (2014). Disadvantage and privilege in our schools: How teachers, psychologists and policymakers can do better, Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 13, 1-4.
- Williams, W. R. (2011). What’s psychology got to do with it? Using psychology to foster economic development. [Review of the book Breaking the poverty cycle: The human basis for sustainable development]. PsycCRITIQUES, 56(20). doi:10.1037/a0023569
- Williams, W. R. (2010). A powerful voice for low-income people: The impact of ACORN. [Review of the book Seeds of Change]. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 10(1). doi: 10.1111/j.1530- 2415.2010.01225.x
- Williams, W. R. (2009). Struggling with poverty: Implications for theory and policy of increasing research on social class-based stigma. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 9, 37-56. doi:10.1111/j.1530-2415.2009.01184.x
- Bullock, H. E, Williams, W. R., & Limbert, W. M. (2003). Predicting support for policies: The impact of attributions and beliefs about inequality. Journal of Poverty, 7(3), 35-56.
- Albarracín, D., Ho., R., McNatt, P. S., Williams, W. R., Rhodes, F., Malotte, C. K., Hoxworth, T., Bolan, G., Zenilman, J., Iatesta, M, & The Project RESPECT Study Group (2000). The structure of outcome beliefs in condom use. Health Psychology, 19(5), 458–468. doi: 10.1037/0278-6133.19.5.458
- Leach, C. W. & Williams, W. R. (1999) Between past and future: Identity and conflicting expectations of the future in Northern Ireland. Political Psychology, 20(4), 875-896. doi:10.1111/0162- 895X.00171