Dr. Sheila Williams is Athens County’s 2021 Woman of the Year

Shayne Lopez • April 8, 2022

Dr. Sheila Williams

 

The Athens County Foundation Women’s Fund awarded the 2021 Woman of the Year Award to Dr. Sheila Williams for her contributions to behavioral health in Athens County over the course of her lifetime.

 

A practicing counselor in Athens County since 1976, Dr. Sheila Williams has impacted the lives of countless women. Additionally, her significant volunteer and advocacy work has made a difference in Athens County for women experiencing substance use disorders and in advancing racial equity.   

 

Dr. Williams was an early board member of Clem House, a residential program for men in recovery. She remained on the board for more than 8 years. Although Clem House serves men, her work helped shape policies and practices that have a ripple effect on women and children in our community. As the male residents learn how to become better partners, providers, and fathers, the women and daughters in their lives benefit greatly. Recognizing the need for a similar residential facility for local women struggling with substance use disorders she and a group of area women set about making that happen. Dr. Williams applied her prior experience directing an ongoing weekend residential program for incarcerated youth with substance use disorders, supervising counselors in a jail alternate residential program for adults with DUIs, and her experience on the Clem House Board, to help create a recovery house for women in Athens County. In 2018, she became the board president of Women for Recovery, the parent organization for the now established Serenity Grove Recovery House for Women, and remains in that role to this day. Dr. Williams’ counseling expertise is an asset for residents, as she can advise staff on how to assist with behavioral challenges such as eating disorders, self-esteem issues, and collaborative relationships within the temporary “family” of Serenity Grove.  

 

Dr. Williams’ commitment to racial equity has also made an impact in Athens County. “Sheila’s experience as a person of color who raised her family in a predominantly white community has challenged each of us to learn about ourselves and to put what we learn into action, words, and deeds,” said Janalee Stock, fellow board member at Serenity Grove. In 1988, Sheila co-founded Students Teaching About Racism in Society (STARS) at Ohio University, a program achieving international recognition with its peer-to-peer model of promoting equity and inclusion among the college student population. As a faculty member in the Ohio University Department of English in the 1970s, Dr. Williams taught courses in African American literature and literature by Black authors from across the diaspora. She designed and executed a Visiting Scholars program for that Department that brought noted authors of Color to the campus and made sure of their availability to the general Athens public. The knowledge of these various perspectives on the Black experience served to broaden her understanding and has fostered her ability to assist others in widening their perspectives. “Sheila encourages us to dig deeper into how history, culture, discrimination, bias, and micro-aggressions must proactively be addressed,” Janalee shared.  

 

Dr. Williams is still going strong in her counseling practice and her community volunteerism. Her contributions to behavioral health in Athens County stretch over 45 years, a feat that speaks of resilience and passion for helping others.  

 

On March 24, 2022, Dr. Williams received the award at Stuart’s Opera House during ACF’s A Celebration of Community. The Foundation also honored the other nominees for this year’s award: Jennifer Seifert and Molly Wales.  

 

The mission of the Women’s Fund of the Athens County Foundation is to promote philanthropy among women and to establish a permanent fund that will provide funding to programs and projects in Athens County which empower women to achieve their full potential. Each year, the Women’s Fund awards grants to Athens County nonprofits that benefit women and girls.  

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