After nearly five decades of dedicated service to Temple University, the College of Education and Human Development celebrates the remarkable legacy of Valerie J. Williams, affectionately known throughout the College as Ms. Val, and wishes her joy in her well-deserved retirement. Through her warmth, wisdom and unwavering commitment, Williams has touched generations of students, faculty and staff, leaving an enduring mark on the CEHD community. 

Williams’s journey at Temple began at Paley Library before she found her long-time home in the CEHD. She was drawn to Temple by the opportunity to work in an educational environment while creating a brighter future for herself and her family. Temple soon became much more than a workplace. It became part of her family’s story. She later watched her daughter attend and graduate from Temple, a moment she described as “one of the most joyful times of my life.” 

Although she never imagined she would remain at the university for nearly five decades, Williams says she stayed because Temple provided meaningful work, relationships and purpose. 

“I just enjoyed doing what I was doing, talking with students, encouraging them to go further,” she shared. “It just kind of kept me here, and I kept going.” 

Throughout the years, she found fulfillment in helping others, solving problems and serving as a welcoming presence for everyone who entered the Office of the Dean. Her commitment to service is rooted in something simple but powerful: caring for people.  

“I’ve always had a position in customer service, talking with people and helping to serve people in their various needs,” she said. “It’s been enjoyable for me.” 

She often became the first point of contact for students who needed guidance, reassurance or help navigating college life. Williams took the time to listen and connect them with the right resources. 

She recalled helping a first-year student who felt overwhelmed and unsure where to turn. Through her network of campus contacts, Williams connected the student with housing and financial aid support. 

“The college setting can be a little scary,” she said. “It’s a new experience. New experiences can be scary.” 

While she may not have seen those students every day throughout their academic journeys, one of her greatest joys was reconnecting with them at graduation. Year after year, Williams welcomed families and celebrated graduates as they prepared to cross the stage. 

“It has been a pleasure to go on stage and look out at the sea of faces of the parents, the grandparents, the families and the graduates themselves,” she shared. “I especially loved seeing students I had come to know reach such an important milestone.” 

Known for balancing many responsibilities, from scheduling and coordinating meetings to supervising student workers, Williams credits her success to listening, learning and building relationships with others. For her, a strong educational community begins with empathy and accessibility.  

“When the professor, instructor or dean listens to the students,” she said, “that’s what makes a strong and supportive educational community.”  

She believes students thrive when they feel seen, heard and valued. Her welcoming presence helped make the CEHD feel like home for so many.  

Creating a sense of belonging has always been central to Williams’s approach to serving students and colleagues. She believes in sharing knowledge, listening to others, and helping people feel welcomed and supported within the College community. 

“Try and have a sense of belonging. Share information,” she said. “We as human beings are like sponges, and as we take in information, we should be able to share it as well.” 

Williams’s impact is deeply felt not only by students, but also by colleagues who had the privilege of working beside her. 

Professor and the Bernard C. Watson Endowed Chair in Urban Education James Earl Davis reflected on Williams’s impact, saying, “Her warmth and generosity of spirit will be her legacy in the College. She had an incredible ability to make even the hardest days brighter and better for the people around her.” 

As she begins retirement, Williams is most proud of the relationships she has built and the memories she leaves behind.  

“I think I’ve left a good memory,” she said. “That’s a good thing, to leave a good memory with folks.”  

Retirement will bring exciting new adventures, including travel, family time, community service and civic engagement. She hopes to visit places such as Morocco, Egypt and Portugal, while continuing the community and political work that is important to her. 

As she reflected on her career, Williams offered a simple piece of advice to new staff and faculty: “Be approachable, be accessible, take a little time to listen.” 

While Williams may be retiring from Temple, the impact of her kindness, wisdom and service will continue to resonate throughout the College of Education and Human Development for years to come. Her legacy lives on in the many students, faculty and staff whose lives she touched and in the welcoming, supportive culture she helped cultivate. 

In recognition of Williams’s decades of dedicated service, warmth and unwavering commitment to the college community, Dean Monika Williams Shealey has established the Valerie J. Williams Service Award for Staff in her honor. Presented annually, the award will recognize a staff member who embodies the spirit, compassion and dedication that Williams brought to her work and who has made exceptional contributions to the College. 

As Williams begins this next chapter, the award ensures that her legacy of service, generosity and care for others will continue to inspire future generations of CEHD staff, just as she has inspired the community she served for nearly 50 years.