Mary M Williams, Ed.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Education
Contact Information
Office: Olney Hall, room 254
Phone: 215.991.2063
E-mail: williamsmm@lasalle.edu
Profile
I am currently Professor in and Chair of the Department of Education at La Salle University. My areas of expertise are character education, ethical leadership, and social justice. I hold certifications in elementary (N-6), middle level social studies (5-9), and Reading Specialist (K-12) in New York, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. I have worked primarily as a middle and secondary teacher for students in the following subject areas: math, reading, social studies, and English. I entered a doctoral program at Boston University where I hoped to find answers to burning questions about what makes a teacher effective. In 1992 I graduated from BU with an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership: Curriculum, Instruction, and Supervision.
My first tenure-track position was at Pace University in New York, where I taught K-12 teacher education courses in the undergraduate certification program as well as courses in the masters programs in Educational Leadership and Reading Certification. After leaving Pace as a tenured Associate Professor in 1995, I accepted a position at the University of San Diego, where I was awarded Full Professor status in 2001. At USD I taught primarily secondary education certification courses, which were cross-listed (graduate and undergraduate), and worked closely with the former Dean of the School of Education, Ed DeRoche with whom I co-authored four books, created and co-directed an International Center for Character Education, and developed a master's degree concentration and online certificate program in Character Education.
In 2002, I accepted a position as a Professor at George Mason University, where I led the Secondary Education Program through a successful NCATE accreditation visit. At Mason I developed blended and online courses, and led an initiative in Best Practice Portfolios as evidence of mastery of teaching and content standards for teachers. I also created the courses and framework for an online master's degree program in Character Education. In 2011, I came to La Salle, where I was attracted to its strong sense of community and support for students and its emphasis on urban education, social justice, and moral/ethical leadership.
Areas of Expertise
- Adolescent Development/Moral and Social Dimensions of Teaching
- Middle Level Teaching and Learning
- Assessment
- Ethical Leadership
- Technology Infusion
Education
- Ed.D., Educational Leadership: Curriculum, Instruction, and Supervision, Boston University
- M.S., Reading Specialist, SUNY Albany
- B.S., Elementary Education, SUNY Plattsburgh
Certifications
- Reading Specialist (K-12), New York
- Elementary Education (N-6), New York
- Elementary Education (N-8), New Hampshire and Massachusetts
Current Teaching
- Adolescent Development
- Differentiating Instruction for Adolescents Using Technology
Research
Books
Williams, M.M. (Editor) (2002). A Guide for Teaching an Integrated Program in Literature, Social Studies & Character/Values. A Teachers Guide for Dist 7. NY City Dept of Ed.
DeRoche, E.F. & Williams, M.M. (2001). Character Education: A Primer for Teachers. Allen, TX: Argus Communications [now with New Brighton, MN: TREND Enterprises].
DeRoche, E.F. & Williams, M.M. (2001). Character Education: A Guide for School Administrators. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.
DeRoche, E.F. & Williams, M.M. (2001). Educating Hearts and Minds: A Comprehensive Character Education Framework. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. [2nd Edition]
Greer Richardson, Ph.D.
Interim Director
La Salle University
Graduate Programs in Education
1900 West Olney Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19141 USA
Phone: 215.951.1806
Fax: 215.951.1843
E-mail: graded@lasalle.edu
La Salle University reserves the right to alter or change this information
at any time, without notice.