Linda Morris Williams was appointed Associate Chancellor for the University of California, Berkeley on May 1, 2008. As a Senior Advisor to Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau and a member of his Cabinet, Ms. Williams serves as a lead strategist and has a broad level of authority to represent the campus with constituencies such as faculty, senate committee chairs, senior administrators, other UC locations, Office of the President, public agencies and the community. Ms. Williams has administrative oversight for the offices of Government Relations, Community Relations, Audit and Advisory Services and serves as the campus's Locally Designated Official under the Whistleblower Policy.
Prior to her current position on the Berkeley campus, Ms. Williams served as Associate President for the University of California Office of the President from 2003-2008 in which she was the senior-most administrative and policy advisor to UC President Robert C. Dynes. In her role as Associate President Ms. Williams played an instrumental role in driving key University Leadership initiatives and the recruitment and selection of University leaders, including eight new campus Chancellors.
Williams began her service at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in 1988. Ms. Williams spent 16 years at the University of California, San Diego in which she built her career from the office manager for the Office of Capital Planning & Budgeting to her appointment as Associate Chancellor at UCSD in 1997. In this role, Ms. Williams administered hundreds of employees and multiple programmatic missions, providing oversight over the Chancellor's Office, Office of Sexual Harassment Prevention & Policy, Office of the Ombudsperson, Cross Cultural Center, Women's Center, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Office, and the University House.
Ms. Williams is a 20-year veteran of the UC system and has earned a reputation as a highly capable and personable administrator. In addition, to championing improved relations between the University and its staff, faculty and students Williams has been instrumental in the University�s efforts to build strong ties with a range of community groups, non-profits and organizations outside of the UC sphere.
Ms. Williams has received numerous honors throughout her career. In 2003, she received the Visionary Leadership Award from the San Diego County Board of Education. She was honored in April 2005 by CityFlight Media Network as One of the Ten Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area. In December 2007 Glide Memorial Church recognized Williams as one of its program honorees "Celebrating Women: Real Voices for Change."
Ms. Williams is the chair of the UC systemwide Staff Diversity Council, and was most recently appointed chair of the UC Systemwide Committee on the Status of Women. Ms. Williams currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Berkeley YWCA.