School of Law Welcomes New Associate Dean for Administration

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Associate Dean Charys S. Williams

The University of Arkansas School of Law welcomes Charys Scotton Williams to its senior leadership team. Williams will serve as associate dean for administration and will oversee support staff, external reporting and serve as liaison to law student organizations.

Prior to joining the Law School, Williams was employed at George Washington University, where her responsibilities included employee and labor relations, labor negotiations, union contract administration and employment dispute resolution for more than 1,100 part-time and adjunct faculty each semester. She has served on the board of the Greater Washington Area Chapter of the National Bar Association and is an American Bar Association Labor and Employment Section Development Fund Fellow.

“We are thrilled that Dean Williams has joined the School of Law,” said Stacy Leeds, dean of the law school. “She comes to us with impressive credentials, experience and talent, and I am confident she’ll help us build on the law school’s many successes.”

Williams received her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from California State University, Los Angeles, at the age of 19 as a member of its early entrance program. She received her juris doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, with a certificate in business and public policy from the Wharton School of Business. While at Penn, she served as the President of the Black Law Students Association, participated in the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition, mentored undergraduate pre-law students and was a member of the Law School Light Opera Company.

Following law school, Williams joined Morgan, Lewis & Bockius as a labor and employment associate in their Washington, D.C. office. While at Morgan Lewis, she advised companies on employment and anti-discrimination laws and represented corporate and individual clients before administrative agencies and state, federal, trial and appellate courts.  

Williams is married to Robert Williams Jr., whom she met while they both attended Penn Law, and is a proud mom to Robert III (“Trey”) and Juliana. She enjoys dancing, yoga, running and pop culture.