A new director has been appointed to lead the School of Public Affairs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Dr. Anne Williamson, a housing policy expert, has been named to the post. She joins UA Little Rock after serving as the Victor and Caroline Schutte/Missouri Professor of Urban Affairs and director of the L.P. Cookingham Institute of Urban Affairsat the University of Missouri – Kansas City.
As a scholar, Williamson has focused on research in housing, policy, community development, citizen participating and tax policy.
“Professor Williamson brings with her leadership experience, expertise in the public and private sectors, as well as with university research centers,” Dr. Sarah Beth Estes, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education, said in a statement. “She is adept at working in multidisciplinary teams on pressing community issues such as fair housing and youth homelessness. She is lauded as an exceptional teacher. Her visionary leadership will enhance our ability to collaborate with our community and city as we educate future leaders.”
As the new director for the School of Public Affairs, Williamson aims to increase community engagement and collaborate with local organizations to resolve city, regional and state issues. One of her planned programs is Impact KCK, a program started in the Kansas City, Kansas Public School system. This program is aimed at reducing student homelessness.
She will oversee multiple degree programs. The School of Public Affairs, which is housed in the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education, administers the Master of Public Administration program, graduate certificate programs in conflict mediation and nonprofit management, and a minor program in nonprofit leadership studies.
Williamson also previously served in state government and private sector roles. She was the director of the Office of Research and Analysis for the state of Georgia.
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