Providing many years of service to DuPage County, Illinois, as an environmental research technician for the Public Works Department, for the last 15 years, Janet L. Williams has served as an environmental chairwoman for local schools in DuPage County. In addition to her career, she has been a leader of the Environmental Club of the Churchill Elementary School since 1993. Ms. Williams has also served as an assistant troop leader and troop leader for the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, as well as a youth leader and Sunday school teacher for the Community of Christ Church.
Further associated with the Churchill Elementary School as co-coordinator of the annual Olympics Day, Ms. Williams became involved with the Girl Scouts as a means of providing her two daughters with positive social enrichment and valuable life lessons. Ms. Williams has spent 20 years working on the development of an education program and, since facilitating the acquisition of Churchill Park, she has been in the process of creating a space for hands-on, extracurricular and outdoor activities for youth group education.
Growing up, through high school, Ms. Williams was active in the choir, shop class, wood class, drafting, print shop, cooking and sewing. She was also very involved with choir director, who was the head of the department and made all the costumes. She further competed in several choir and canoeing competitions. During this time, Ms. Williams worked at the YWCA as a volunteer for the youth group, planning two activities a month held at the Y. In college, she was still involved in canoeing and as a youth leader at her church.
Prior to embarking on her career, Ms. Williams obtained an Associate of Applied Science in architecture from the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Following this accomplishment, she earned associate degrees in computer science and geographic information systems from the College of DuPage. She has also completed postgraduate coursework in cooking from the College of DuPage. Ms. Williams later received multiple certifications from Lorman Education Services, the International Right of Way Association and Elmhurst College. Additionally, she has achieved certification from the Community Emergency Response Team. Likewise, Ms. Williams has been certified as a water safety instructor and in first aid and CPR by the American Red Cross.
Ms. Williams is the author of a number of books and was the first woman to graduate from the College of DuPage with an Associate of Applied Science in architecture. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Women, the International Right of Way Association and the Benedictine University Veterans Group. She has accepted multiple grants and was recognized as the Glen Ellyn Park District Volunteer of the Year. Appointed to the Glen Ellyn Junior Chamber in 1998, Ms. Williams was presented with the Most Beautiful Garden Award in 2004 and the Those Who Excel Award from School District 41 from 2006 to 2007.