Dr. Antoinette Ellis-Williams, director of the NJCU Lee Hagan Africana Studies Center and an assistant professor of women’s and gender studies, is the recipient of the Employee of the Month Recognition Program Award for March 2006, and also named "Employee of the Year-2006!

A member of the NJCU community since 1996, Dr. Ellis-Williams was initially appointed assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.  In 1998, she became director of the Hagan Center, and then in 2000 was appointed an assistant professor of political science.  In 2005, Dr. Ellis-Williams was appointed an assistant professor of women’s and gender studies.  She continues to direct the Hagan Center.   

Dr. Ellis-Williams is a leader of the University’s Black Administrators, Alumni, Faculty, Students and Staff Organization (BAAFSSO).  She is the founder and creative force behind the NJCU storytelling and spoken word series entitled, “Catfish and Cornbread Stories about Black Women and Families.”  She has written a book of the same title, which is awaiting publication.

In 2003, Dr. Ellis-Williams was invited to present a paper on human rights at Oxford University in London, England. Her topic was “Transforming Communities: An Examination of a Womanist Paradigm and Its Universality in Human Rights.” Dr. Ellis-Williams has presented at many conferences and seminars including, the W.E.B. DuBois Scholars at Princeton University, New Jersey Leadership, New Jersey Project, Cornell University, Association of Black Cultural Centers, and Harvard University.

Dr. Ellis-Williams traveled to Egypt and Ghana to collect data on the lives of women in Africa. The research enabled her to work on Comparative Analysis of Women in the African Diaspora. Her research interests also include work on such topics as: immigrants in the African Diaspora; urban politics; youth, women and empowerment; social justice and race, civil rights; immigration and diversity; and African-American male issues.

In 2002, Dr. Ellis-Williams became the first women licensed as a minister by the Greater Abyssinian Baptist Church in its 41-year history. Currently, she is a member of Bethany Baptist Church where she coordinates the Youth Council.

Dr. Ellis-Williams is the founder and director of the newly created statewide Female Leadership Development Institute and Research Center.  Additionally, Dr. Ellis-Williams’ community participation includes service as: vice president of the Board of Trustees of East Orange Hospital; a member of the curriculum development committee of the University Heights Charter School; and a member of the strategic planning and program committee for St. Philips Academy.

She holds a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Seton Hall University, a master’s of public administration from the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, and a Ph.D. from Cornell University, School of Human Ecology.

Dr. Ellis-Williams resides in Newark with her husband Junius Williams, Esq. and their sons Junius Onome and Che Adolphus.