Brian Williams

Dr. Brian Williams is a scholar, author, speaker, and educational advocate, with over 25 years of experience working in schools, universities, and other educational communities. He currently serves as the Executive Director of The Bob Moses Research Center for Math Literacy Through Public Education at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. His work is situated at the intersection of science education, urban education, and education for social justice. Additionally, he is interested in how equity issues influence science teaching and learning and the access to science literacy. His scholarly work has been published in Democracy and Education, Science Education, School and Community Journal, Negro Ed Review, and International Journal of Social Research Methodology, and his research has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education.

In addition to his research, Dr. Williams has over 20 years of experience in supporting the professional development of pre-service and in-service teachers in STEM. He has taught courses on topics ranging from science methods and culturally responsive pedagogy to teachers in the United States and other countries around the world. In addition to his work with teachers, he has also developed science and mathematics curricula, served as an educational adviser to various schools and professional organizations, and taught science to both middle and elementary school students. Before joining the faculty at Florida International University, Dr. Williams served as the Director of the Alonzo A. Crim Center for Urban Educational Excellence at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. While at the Crim Center, he was responsible for implementing service programs, conducting research, and providing technical assistance aimed at cultivating excellent educational experiences for children living in urban communities.

Because of his extensive work in the fields of science education, multicultural education, and urban education, Dr. Williams has also served as a consultant to organizations such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Educational Development Center (EDC), and Quality Education for Minorities (QEM), and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta. He also serves as a board member for the Tapestry Public Charter School and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta. He holds degrees from Emory University (Ph.D., 2003), Georgia Institute of Technology (M.S., 1996), and Norfolk State University (B.S., 1994) and is a former Ford Foundation Fellow and Spencer Fellow. He is married to Dr. Rhina Fernandes Williams. They have two children, David and Kaya.