Harriette Williams ’52, Ed.D. ’73

---

 

Harriette Williams brought to her post-collegiate career a fervent commitment to youth and their families in the Los Angeles area. As a teacher, counselor and principal at junior and senior high levels and as a senior high schools division director of instruction and operations, she has impacted and influenced the lives of many youths and professionals who subsequently became dedicated to quality education, particularly in inner city areas.

Beyond her professional impact as an educator, Williams’ life has been characterized by commitment to service and to perseverance in seeing that viable, meaningful programs are offered. She has served as a local, regional and national officer of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., a public service sorority that focuses on international, economic and educational development as well as political and health awareness. She launched the Delta Headstart Program in Los Angeles, which now serves over 2,000 children. She has been president of Lullaby guild, a support auxiliary for the Children’s Home Society, dedicated to ensuring quality care for African American children without permanent families.

Williams is a past president of the Los Angeles chapter of Jack & Jill of America, a national organization dedicated to bettering the condition of all children. She is an active member of Links, Inc., a service organization which develops and promotes programs directed at services to youth, national and international trends. An active member of her church, Williams has provided leadership and support to programs for seniors as well as youths. She serves as president of Wilfandel, an “old Los Angeles” philanthropic service organization whose activities center around a lovely historic home which they maintain and make available to benefit the black community, present cultural programs and provide scholarships for deserving young people. She also serves on the advisory board for the Southeast Symphony.

Williams’s selfless attitude, human sensitivity, social consciousness, tireless energy, indomitable will, astute observations, critical thinking and direct persuasiveness have been recognized by various community organizations with awards such as the Sojourner Truth Award from the National Association of Business and Professional Women and the Minerva Award, the highest award of the Los Angeles chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.

The UCLA Alumni Association has benefitted through Williams’ presence on the board of directors, serving as director-at-large and vice president, on various awards and scholarship committees and, most recently, on the search committee for a new executive director. She has also been active in Blue and Gold Circle, a member of the Alumni cabinet for the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies and is an officer in Gold Shield. It is for her service to the larger Los Angeles community that we honor Harriette Williams.