Williams Awarded Spencer D. Albright III Professorship in Rehabilitation

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Brent Thomas Williams

Brent Thomas Williams, an associate professor in the College of Education and Health Professions counseling program for more than 20 years, was awarded the Spencer D. Albright III Professorship in Rehabilitation.

Endowed by Spencer D. Albright III in the late 1990s, the Albright Professorship is awarded to rehabilitation counseling professors. Albright, himself a survivor of paralytic poliomyelitis, endowed the professorship to help people with disabilities, limitations or handicaps live and work productively through research in rehabilitation. The professorship is awarded through the U of A and the College of Education and Health Professions.

Williams joined the college's faculty in 2002 as the program coordinator of the Rehabilitation Education and Research Program, and he has since been awarded over $59 million in external funding to continue his research and service efforts. With research interests in school-to-work transition, rehabilitation counseling education and rehabilitation service outcomes, Williams said he is honored to receive the professorship and advocate for people with disabilities across the state of Arkansas.

"It is an incredible honor to be recognized in this way," Williams said. "While I am honored to have this bestowed on me, I am more heartened that this professorship exists at all, as it highlights my profession, one that I know to be critical to the lives of persons with disabilities."

Williams currently holds several leadership positions within his field, including president of the U of A Disability Employee Impact Group, the principal investigator for Seamless Transition for Arkansas and project director for the Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment for Arkansas Rehabilitation Services. At present, his research efforts are focused on building the bridge between high school and the world for youth with disabilities in Arkansas.

"The preponderance of all my research has been to develop and model systems that facilitate youth with disabilities' transition so that upon graduation from high school, they have the opportunities and resources to enter into the world of work, live independently and participate fully in their communities," Williams said.

The purpose of the Albright Professorship is to advance the study and practice of disability services that enable people with disabilities to enter and maintain productive roles in society. The professorship recognizes Williams for the work he has done and will continue to do to advance disability services in Arkansas.

Williams said he is fortunate to be able to use his relationships with state government personnel to advocate for persons with disabilities and facilitate best practices for everyone in the workforce.

"This professorship helps me facilitate an ambassador role so I can continue to meet with state legislators and the commissioners of state agencies," he said. "It's most rewarding for me to examine systems in Arkansas and work to enhance services so persons with disabilities have the opportunity to live their best lives."