School of Education

Helen Easterling Williams, Ed.D., is the dean of the School of Education at Azusa Pacific University (APU) in Azusa, California. Prior to joining APU, she served as senior assistant dean of the University of Delaware College of Arts and Sciences (2003-06), where she established diversity initiatives for recruiting and retaining faculty and students-of-color, monitored enrollment management, initiated the Women-in-Science Program, served as liason to the dean's office for the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accreditation process, and functioned as the University's liaison to the American Council on Education Delaware Network. Some of her other responsibilities included the Dean's Scholars Program, the College Faculty Senate, the Liberal Studies Program, Medical Scholars Program, and the faculty-Student Grievance Process. From 2000-03, Helen Easterling Williams was the senior assistant dean for the University of Delaware University Parallel Program at their Georgetown, Dover, and Wilmington campuses. Prior to this, she served as the assistant dean of the Univeristy Parallel Program - Wilmington campus (1997-2000).

Dr. Williams’ breadth of professional educational experience includes roles in administration, teaching, counseling, and speech and language therapy. She is an American Council on Education 2004-2005 Fellow. In that capacity, she served at the University of Maryland University College in Adelphi, where she established the Office of Instructional Design and Development, collaborated on a K-16 Early College Program concept paper, prepared an assessment report for the University of Delaware, and provided consultation support to the University of Baltimore. From 1986 - 1997, Dr. Williams served as the Counselor for Special Services, International Students, Computer Sciences and other technologies. She also served as the Advisor to the Student Government and as a member of the Faculty Senate at the Delaware Technical and Community College in Wilmington, Delaware.

As an ordained Local Deacon of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Dr. Williams has served at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Wilmington, Delaware, where her leadership responsibilities included the Women’s Prison Ministry, Intercessory Prayer Ministry, and Daughters of Radiance Women’s Ministry. Presently, she serves as a member of the ministerial staff of First A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles, California. Williams is a member of the National Council on Black American Affairs - Northeast Region, the Wilmington Metropolitan Urban League, the Delaware Mentoring Program at the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution, and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She is blessed with a wonderful husband, Joseph, two daughters (Shawniqua and Camille), a son-in-law, Joseph, and two grandsons (Joseph Vincent and Joshua Emmanuel).