Courtesy of Xavier University of Louisiana
Driven by her passion for educating others, Xavier University of Louisiana alumna Antoinette Williams’ (‘20) devotion and skills have led her to Thailand, where she will teach high school English. Her Thailand teaching opportunity came after applying to the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), a non-profit organization that offers participants study abroad opportunities to foster their global and intercultural understanding.
While at Xavier, she participated in Xavier’s Center for Intercultural and International Programs (CIIP) and was blessed with the opportunity to study abroad in London. A political science major and education minor, Williams completed classroom hours as a student teacher and is excited to use her knowledge to develop the minds of Thailand students.
“I’ve always been interested in the way education works not only in the United States but in other countries, so to be able to participate in this process is a dream come true,” said Williams.
Williams vividly remembers sixth grade as the pivotal year that piqued her interest in education. After being placed in advanced placement (AP) classes, she began recognizing the lack of diversity in her classroom. An Uptown New Orleans native, she noticed she never had classes with any children from her neighborhood, although they all attended the same school. This continued until her sophomore year of high school, with Williams continuing to only have classes with her same sixth-grade group, even for elective courses. This separation also created tension for her outside of school hours. It was difficult for Williams to foster social connections with her neighborhood friends as they often told her to hang out with her school friends.
“Even as a kid, I was trying to figure out who decided which classrooms each person should be in,” said Williams. “I knew I wanted to be the person who helped fix rules, laws, and policies that shape those types of experiences, so I chose to major in political science. I also chose an education minor to become more familiar with what actually happens in the classroom.”
While Williams’ childhood experience motivated her to pursue education, Xavier forged the pathway. The guidance of Dr. Pamela Waldron-Moore, a Professor in Xavier’s Political Science department, steered Williams in the direction of education and policy.
“As a first-generation college student, I didn’t know there were Master’s policy programs. I accredit my trajectory post-Xavier to Dr. Waldron-Moore because she introduced me to education policy programs and helped me realize the career I really wanted to do,” said Williams.
Her Xavier experience was fulfilling, and she is grateful to Xavier’s Political Science department for playing a vital role in her life.
“Shoutout to our department; it’s small but mighty. My Xavier professors helped me with so much. We were a smaller department, so whenever opportunities presented themselves, our professors knew who we were and could say, ‘I think that’s something Antoinette would be great for,’ said Williams. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wondered if I should participate in an opportunity and Dr. Waldron-Moore always lent a listening ear.”
Williams’ first post-graduation job was due to a recommendation from Dr. Russell Frazier, Department Head of Xavier’s Political Science department. Dr. Frazier sent Williams’ resume for the job, and she received the position shortly after. The position allowed Williams to work for a council member and chief of staff and provided her with extensive judicial and legislative experience.
“This was after graduation and at this point, my professors were not obligated to help me, yet they still were. The political science department was not only helpful during my undergraduate experience, but still are to this day,” said Williams.
Xavier’s Education department also played a significant role in Williams’ experience by ensuring she was ready for life once she left campus.
“Dr. Jimmy Caldwell and Dr. Rachel Davis-Haley in the education department were my rocks. They prepare students for life after Xavier, whether it be graduate school or the workforce. I’m truly thankful to them for that because I’ve been successful because of my preparation at Xavier,” expressed Williams.
After Xavier, Williams obtained her master’s degree in Education Policy from the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), where she studied education policy. She graduated early from the Ivy League institution utilizing the work ethic and dedication she cultivated her entire academic career. Williams’ two graduate school roommates were also Xavier alums, aiding in her transition to graduate school. She rose to UPenn’s workload challenges in part to her college preparation. She found many topics covered in graduate school she had already learned during her Xavier sophomore year. With her in-depth knowledge from Xavier, she felt at ease academically.
“Xavier prepared me more than some of my counterparts in my graduate program who went to illustrious universities. My degree from Xavier made my ivy league education a piece of cake,” said Williams.
In addition to academia, Williams’ volunteering experience will also support her teaching abroad in Thailand. She volunteered with the United Teachers of New Orleans teacher’s union, setting the groundwork for her advocacy in support of teachers and students. She is a board member for Trinity Community Center, a local non-profit organization that serves as an education hub to foster lifelong learning for under-resourced children, youth, and families. She’s also an active member and former vice president of McDonough 35 High School’s alumni association.
She participated in Mobilization at Xavier (M.A.X.), a coalition of students who desire to promote social awareness and social responsibility through community service. She also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and participated in multiple community engagement projects with her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA). Williams’ dedication to community involvement stems from understanding the positive outcomes of volunteering.
“Volunteer work has a larger impact on people than we realize. It instills in you that whenever you’re doing great things for yourself, you should remember, ‘for every two steps I take, I should reach and pull someone else up,’” said Williams. “That mentality keeps good people around you and keeps opportunities coming towards you. It’s a great feeling when you’re in a position to give back because not everybody is able to.”
Williams currently works as a fellow for Education Testing Services (ETS), assembling policy recommendations for projects. She recently presented a policy proposal at the National Assessment of Educational Progress’ (NAEP) 10th Anniversary Internship Symposium, representing the political science methodology she learned from Xavier. She submitted policy recommendations on how to mitigate COVID-19’s impact on NAEP’s federal and state policies.
She looks forward to Thailand as the classroom experience will allow her to witness the impact of education in real-time. After Thailand, she plans to return to the U.S. to obtain her Ph.D. in literacy language and culture or education policy. Thanks to her experience working alongside council members, school board members, and state senators, she is determined and encouraged to continue policy work to make a difference in communities.
Williams is thankful to Xavier for shaping her career path and instilling the skills she needed to be successful. Her perseverance, drive and commitment to education and policy drives her forward as she works to create the best practices for legislative and educational systems.
