Jahmal Williams said when the position for director of advocacy for racial justice at San Jose State was first announced, he knew his passion to serve the campus community would compel him to apply.
Williams, who has assumed several roles at SJSU since 2014, including being program director of the African American/Black Student Success Center, said the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement during the summer motivated him to apply.
“I felt that I had to at least apply to say, ‘Why not I take on this role and this task of moving our campus forward and making it better,’ as opposed to just trying to informally advise the person who does get the role,” he said over Zoom.
Williams has a master’s degree in clinical social work from Michigan State University and a bachelor's degree in women's studies from the University of Michigan.
Lisa Millora, vice president for strategy and chief of staff at SJSU, announced that Williams was named director of advocacy for racial justice on Sept. 28 in a campuswide email.
The position is one of two new roles created at SJSU this year to work toward racial equity. The director will collaborate with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and community partners to coordinate and lead programs and initiatives that will promote racial justice for SJSU faculty members, staff and students.
Williams said the national racial justice movement this summer sparked conversations for SJSU to develop the position.
“There are concerns and issues that have been brought to the forefront that we have to address and the communities that feel unheard need to be heard,” Williams said. “That's what my job will be.”
Students and faculty members who previously worked with Williams said his passion for racial equity within the university shows through his work.
Akil Green, an African American studies junior, said in a phone interview that he met Williams during his freshman year through the African American/Black Student Success Center. Green said he’s happy and feels at ease with the university’s decision to hire Williams as director.
“[Williams’] track record shows through the impact he has on students that he has really dedicated himself and put in extra effort for the student body over the years,” Green said. “So I think it's a very fitting position for him.”
Armani Donahue, who worked with Williams for over a year as the program coordinator for the African American/Black Student Success Center said his transition into the new position will allow him to have a greater impact on the student body.
“He saw the opportunity to implement the ideas he's been wanting to put in for so long, so I respect it,” Donahue said over Zoom.
Before working at the African American/Black Student Success Center, Williams was an assistant director at Peer Connections, which provides free tutoring, mentoring and general coaching for SJSU students.
He also worked in Student Affairs at North Carolina Central University and in the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access at Georgetown University.
Donahue said she hopes Williams is able to create programs and initiatives for Black students and mitigate other racial equity issues on campus.
Williams said he has long- and short-term goals to instill lasting initiatives to improve graduation and retention rates in underserved student and faculty member communities.
“The immediate short term goal is to really hear from the constituents that make up the institution and strategize with those populations to then develop initiatives that will last forever,” he said.
It was unknown to the Spartan Daily at the time of publication who would fill the program director position at the African American/Black Student Success Center.
Williams will assume his new role Oct. 26.
