Joanne A. Williams, assistant professor of journalism and mass communication, has worked at Olivet College since 1998. She teaches courses in journalism, theatre and interdisciplinary studies, and serves as the faculty advisor for The Echo, the award-winning student newspaper, and chair of the college’s Media Board, representing all student media. Her interests include all forms of media, as well as the dynamic impact and import of communication in a global society. She has been honored for her work with co-curricular activities and diversity initiatives. Williams has received Olivet’s Drs. Gorton and Peggy Riethmiller Outstanding Faculty Member Award for excellence in administration 1998-99 and Drs. Gorton and Peggy Riethmiller Outstanding Faculty Member Award for excellence in advising, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005. In 2007, she received the Betsy Dole Sisterhood Award for her work in social justice in the arena of gender. In 2009, she was honored to receive the Donald A. Morris Award for her work with one of the college’s top graduating seniors.
Williams is president of the Michigan Collegiate Press Association, and is active in a number of state and national journalism and mass communication and advising organizations.

Prior to coming to Olivet, Williams worked at weekly and daily newspapers for more than 15 years, including a stint with Gannett in Wisconsin, and was also a chamber of commerce director in Maine.

Williams earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a master’s degree in humanities from California State University-Dominguez Hills.