Ronnie Williams, vice president for Student Services and Institutional Diversity at the University of Central Arkansas, received two awards recognizing his service this spring.
In March, the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce recognized Williams with the Guy W. Murphy Distinguished Service Award at its annual meeting that was held on the UCA campus.
The award is the highest form of recognition from the chamber and is presented each year to a person or group who has demonstrated special service to the community. The chamber cited Williams’ inclusive, open leadership and guidance at UCA and toward people and organizations in Faulkner County.
Williams was the first black chairman for the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and was also vice chairman of the Arkansas Educational Television Commission. The chamber also recognized his service with the Arkansas Community Foundation Board, the Faulkner County Shelter for Abused and Battered Women and the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct.
During UCA’s Black Alumni Weekend in April, Williams also received The One award. The award, presented during the weekend’s first-ever Black Excellence Awards banquet, recognized Williams for having outstandingly served the UCA community whilst being the only black person represented on his team.