Eddie R. Williams Jr., the first African American to serve as a vice president at Northern Illinois University, recently passed away.
Dr. Williams received his Ph.D. from Columbia University in New York City. In 1971, he was hired as an assistant professor of mathematics at Northern Illinois University, where he would remain for the next four decades. As a professor, he developed a math course for disadvantaged students and served on several doctoral committees. Dr. Williams was also a longtime faculty advisor for the Northern Black Choir and a dedicated supporter of the Center for Black Studies, the Martin Luther King Jr. Commons, and the McKinley “Deacon” Davis CHANCE Program.
In 1980, Dr. Williams transitioned to full-time administration as associate director of the university’s Office of Budget and Planning. He was later promoted to vice president of finance and planning. In 2000, Dr. Williams was promoted again to chief of operations and executive vice president of finance and facilities, a position he held until his retirement in 2013. Under his leadership, the university developed 21 new buildings and facilities and completed seven major building redesign and renovation projects.
Outside of his career in academia, Dr. Williams was a a member of the U.S. Naval Reserves for 27 years and served as a senior pastor at South Park Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago.
