The College is pleased to announce a new addition to our administration: Kesha Morant Williams, Ph.D., will fill the role of Vice President for Academic Affairs effective October 28, 2024.
Dr. Morant Williams has spent her career balancing academic leadership and achievement in the communication space with community engagement and a focus on equity and inclusion. She most recently served as Senior Advisor to the President for Diversity, Equity, and Belonging as well as a Professor of Humanities and Communication Arts at Elizabethtown College. She has taught communication, medical humanities, and English courses at institutions including Penn State Berks, Eastern University, Millersville University, West Chester University, and St. Joseph University. Her career has encompassed working as a journalist and community engagement connector. She brings this unique experience and approach to our institution, and we know it will align well with our legacy of equity and creating access to higher education.
In academia, Dr. Morant Williams has led and participated in committees on retention, campus inclusion, research, and community engagement. Her relationship-centered teaching and research have been recognized throughout the university, in the community, and nationally. Her research on culture and healthcare, popular culture, and student perspectives has been published in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and popular press.
Dr. Morant Williams is a member and has extensive volunteer leadership experience with the National Communication Association. She has also been a leader at local organizations including the YWCA and the Conestoga Valley School Board.
Her particular blend of community engagement, focus on belonging, academic leadership, and strategic mentoring will seamlessly integrate into her new role at Thaddeus Stevens College. A Lancaster native who graduated from McCaskey, Dr. Morant Williams feels deeply connected to our local and regional community, as well as aligns with our mission to create equitable access to the opportunity for higher education, particularly for those who are under-resourced and underserved. As we continue to focus on streamlining and improving systems and infrastructure, expanding enrollment and programs, and creating a strong pipeline into the workforce, Dr. Morant Williams will bring her experience to strengthen these goals.
In her role she will oversee the academic divisions and programs at the college, as well as recruitment, admissions, financial aid, enrollment management, engagement and retention, the library, continuing education and workforce development, K-16 initiatives, articulation agreements, mental health counseling, accessibility, and academic counseling. She will also be a member of the President’s Cabinet and the President’s Executive Council.
Dr. Morant Williams has a doctorate in health and relational communication from Howard University, a master’s degree in humanities and cultural studies from Penn State Harrisburg, and a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from West Chester University.
We’re so glad to welcome her to the team!