Karen Williams

Karen P. Williams is a retired school administrator.  She served as a Head Start Director and Coordinator of Human Resources when she retired from Kanawha County Schools. A graduate from Marshall University and the West Virginia Graduate College, Karen provided over thirty-seven years of service in the field of education and has taught on the elementary, middle, high school and college levels.  Following her retirement Karen went back to school and obtained a degree from Ashford College in Atlanta, Georgia in Wedding / Event Planning.   During her career, she was recognized by then Governor Gaston Caperton, as the Outstanding Developmental Educator for the State of West Virginia.  Karen Williams is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Gamma Chi Omega Chapter and was recently appointed by the Great Lakes Regional Director as the Legislative Liaison for the State of West Virginia.   She belongs to the  Charleston – Institute (WV) Chapter of Links Incorporated where she is Parliamentarian and National Trends Chair.  She loves the theater and has served has on the Board of the Charleston Light Opera Guild.  Karen attends Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church and is in charge of Family Ministries .   Mrs. Williams volunteers with CORE (Organ Donation), is a  Life Member of the NAACP, Membership Chair of the Charleston Branch of the NAACP, has served on the Kanawha County Schools Parent Advisory Council, Tuesday Morning Group, the Westside Initiative Project Launch, Served as President of the Steering Committee of Our Children, Our Future, serves on the Executive Board of the Alliance for Sustainable Families, Medicaid Taskforce, Healthy Kids and Family Board,  State Music Coordinator (Theomusicologist) for the Poor Peoples Campaign, Literacy Coalition and teaches Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University Courses. During this recent political season Mrs. Williams was asked to serve on the Board of RiseUpWV, The West Virginia Black Voter’s Impact Initiative, and Kanawha County Democratic Women.  She also was a state organizer for West Virginia Can’t Wait.    She was honored by the West Virginia Healthy Kids and Family Organization as an Outstanding Volunteer; she was also honored by the organization and named a State Hero.  The 11^th Family Court Circuit and Bench /Bar Committee honored Mrs. Williams for her contributions to education during its Black History “Star Celebration Program. Marshall University presented Mrs. Williams with the Alumnae of the Year Community Service Award. Karen is currently on the Board of  Our Future West Virginia and Rise Up WV.  Karen is the wife of 45 years to her college sweetheart and travel partner John Williams, mother of adult children Janelle Williams, Human Resource  at WVU in Beckley, WV, Jocelyn, Johnny both graduates of WVSU and new grandmother of Bryson Roderick.