Constance Y. Williams, PhD, believes that she owes her professional success to her personable nature and commitment to treating everyone equally, qualities instilled in her by her parents. She values human connections and was inspired to pursue her career path by her uncle, who is also a psychologist. Now retired from her post, she served as the regional director and psychologist for the Illinois Division of Mental Health, where she provided services to citizens, oversaw accreditation, and facilitated federal grants. Active in her field, Dr. Williams maintained membership with the Association of Black Psychologists and the American Psychological Association.
Beginning her career at Jackson Part Hospital, Dr. Williams was later hired by Cook County Hospital as a psychologist following the completion of her internship. She seized the opportunity to work as the deputy of a community services hospital in New York, after which she served as the bureau chief of mental health for the City of Chicago for nine years. Before accepting her role as regional director, Dr. Williams spent more than a decade as the deputy director of children and adolescent services for the State of Illinois. As someone who thrives in times of change, she has always been a natural leader and has been recognized for her efforts with multiple awards and recognitions throughout her career.
Committed to her community, Dr. Williams has been an ordained deacon with the Trinity United Church of Christ for more than 20 years. She spent 14 years as a member of The Links, Incorporated, an international not-for-profit social and service organization that is the largest nationwide organization of black women in the United States. Alongside these affiliations, Dr. Williams has been a member of the Delta Black Sorority for more than 50 years. In preparation for her career, she graduated from Elmhurst College with a Bachelor of Arts before completing a master’s degree at the University of Connecticut, where she was the recipient of a Ford Foundation fellowship. She concluded her higher education in 1984 at Kent State University, graduating with a Doctor of Philosophy.
Since her retirement in 2023, Dr. Williams has remained active as a consultant and presenter. She plans to write a book and hopes to develop a travel program for seniors. She firmly believes that individuals should always leave the world better than they found it, and she encourages others to be open-minded. Dedicated to treating others with compassion, she emphasizes the importance of respecting people and performing random acts of kindness.
