Dr. Lovoria B. Williams, PhD, RN, FAAN, leads CCTS Inclusive Excellence initiatives to advance health equity and diversity, providing strategic guidance on health equity research, community engagement, participatory research, and fostering inclusive environments. She facilitated expansion of the Disparities Researcher Equalizing Access for Minorities (DREAM) Scholars program, which is now in its sixth year, from an informal mentoring program into a multidisciplinary, structured career development program for health equity focused predocs, postdocs and early career faculty.

Dr. Williams is a tenured professor in the UK College of Nursing and serves as the Associate Director of Cancer Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the NCI-designated Markey Cancer Center, where she holds the Sally Humphrey Professorship in Cancer Health Equity.

Advancing health equity among racial/ethnic minorities in partnership with community health workers in Black church settings is at the heart of Dr. Williams’ research. She trains community health workers to deliver behavioral interventions to prevent cardiovascular disease, reduce weight, and increase lung cancer screening uptake. A fierce advocate for advancing the diversity of the biomedical workforce, Dr. Williams is embedded in campus-wide initiatives to recruit, develop, and retain scientists from underrepresented backgrounds and strengthen their capacities for leadership and conducting health equity research.

To these ends, she conducts inclusivity workshops, surveys and tracks the representation among the CCTS, develops and leads career development programs. Hallmarks of her leadership include mentorship and the development of psychologically safe environments. She is the ideal contact for questions related to engagement with communities of color, community advisory board development and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.