UNT Dallas Vice President for University Advancement, Dr. Monica G. Williams has more
than 25 years administrative and leadership experience in non-profit and educational
sectors. She also serves as President & CEO of the UNT Dallas Foundation. Dr. Williams
is responsible for leading the university’s efforts in fundraising, alumni affairs,
external relations, marketing/communications and sponsored research. An accomplished
fundraiser and passionate advocate for the underrepresented, Dr. Williams has devoted
the majority of her career to social services and the advancement of underserved communities
by raising money to support an array of worthy causes. Since arriving at UNT Dallas
in July 2016, Dr. Williams has raised more than $10 million in private philanthropy
and has lead the team that increased the research grant portfolio by $35+ million.
In the last two years, she has taken on the responsibility of increasing retention
of first-generation students who need more resources and growing the Caruth Police
Institute from a local to statewide platform attracting significant resources toward
eventually improving best practices in policing nationwide.
Before joining UNT Dallas, Dr. Williams was Founding Managing Director of Community
Partnerships for the United States Fund for UNICEF where she led the organization’s
efforts to create awareness around the plight of children living in impoverished nations.
It was at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF that she worked to build organizational capacity
and develop strategies for significant partnerships with diaspora groups in the United
States. Her fundraising efforts have generated more than $150 million in support
for multiple institutions of higher education and other well—respected not-for-profit
organizations. She began her professional career as a high school English teacher
and later held leadership positions at Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc., the Brown Schools,
Neighborhood Centers Inc., Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M University,
Rice University and HoustonWorks USA.
Among her most celebrated accomplishments are serving her church as a lifetime board
member and being one of the co-founders of the Women’s Leadership Summit, started
by The Hon. Helen Giddings and an esteemed network of African-American women.
A native Houstonian who was born in Dallas, Dr. Williams holds a B.A. in Journalism
and an M.A. in Communications from Texas Southern University, and a Ph.D. in Educational
Leadership from Prairie View A & M University. She is a proud mother and grandmother.