Dr. Portia Williams is the Executive Director of the Office of International Affairs (OIA) and Assistant Professor (Coterminous) in the Department of International and Transcultural Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is also the Fulbright Program Administrator/Campus Representative for the College.
Dr. Williams' current work explores internationalization practices within higher education and transnational cooperation. With more than 20 years of experience in education and development, she has directed, advised, or collaborated on policy and program initiatives in East and Southern Africa, Eastern Europe, East and Southern Asia, the Middle East, and the United States. Dr. Williams holds a doctorate in International Educational Development and Policy Studies and an Ed.M in International Family and Community Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She also holds an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
Dr. Williams is a former Spencer Research Fellow and David L. Boren Fellow. Her research investigates the politics of foreign aid and its impact on educational policy and teacher shortage.