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Brittany M Williams, Ph.D.

@drbritwilliams

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🤫 The Black Samantha Jones |📍ATL & BTV
💊 ENM #PrEP user & health advocate | 💪🏾
👩🏽‍🏫 Interdisciplinary Professor | 🩷💚
📧 [email protected]

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The thing about finding time to celebrate women for life moments other than #marriage and #motherhood, is that you have to communicate the significance and value of them. We as women can’t just complain about motherhood and marriage being a standard if we aren’t setting new goals, being what we want to see, and co-creating experiences that uplift us and other women.

Marriage and motherhood are often more attainable and more identifiable than other “big wins” because they’re among the longest standing traditions for women in the world. Our career successes— even though women have always worked— are newer because we haven’t even always valued the kinds of work women have always done. Don’t get me started on my choice to be #Childfree!

When I celebrated #tenure in #Jamaica, it was nearly a decade in the making. I made clear from the outset what this meant to me so my family and friends showed up, and out! I also loved this trip because it was a physical reset for my body, which had been through so much poking, prodding, and testing over the last year because of the stress of this job and *everything*.

The thing about breaking barriers, is that we often don’t know how to honor those who move them. If you want people to celebrate you, think about how you’ll show up back. Or— how you’ll show up first!

We got this, girlies! 🥰💜 taken in Whitehouse, Jamaica by @drbritwilliams

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a year ago

On Friday, April 25th, I became the first* African American woman to earn tenure and promotion in the University of Vermont’s College of Education & Social Services history.
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Naturally, I went home to reflect on my educational past & to think about my future. This is, after all, a kind of professional graduation.

*(sadly, yes, a first in 2025)

Read more at the link in my bio. taken in Atlanta, Georgia by @drbritwilliams

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a year ago

I am so honored & thankful to be part of the 2025 Diverse Issues Emerging Scholars class!

To have this cover, as a 1stgen, formerly low income, Black woman faculty who has been repeatedly told to take up less space, be quieter, to advocate softer… to just do LESS, only to be featured in all of my boldness & glory? Word to the SEC (❤️🖤), it just means more!

Every single thing that I do, write, and center in my work is first and foremost for Black women and girls, & second for trying to make the world a better place for us all.

Thank you to everyone who has nominated or supported my submission this year (and in the past!) for this award. To my named career mentors— Darris, Tiffany, McKinley, Dominique, & Jay. I am so honored you’ve chosen to love, support, + push me and my work.

To my unnamed mentors; comentoring sister scholars; forever academic besties; Group chat squads (IYKYK); Inspirations (Drs. Tressie McMillan Cottom & Lori Patton Davis); and last year’s cover star, thank YOU for always having my back & supporting my wild research ideas! There’s never enough space to name your heroes, fam, & squad, but your friendship, kinship, & support mean everything… Esp. at 2am when I am spiraling & you reply. ☠️

To my parents— thanks for always challenging me, telling me I’m brilliant, and that I need to do something constructive! For reminding me that I am because of — not in spite of— the hyper capitalism that has required you to work twice as hard to get half as far in this lifetime. I am, because you are.

Thanks to Diverse for this honor— I’m speechless.

I said a lot for this piece (some I’ll later clarify, lol), but I want to share my wisdom and advice for new faculty: “Do research and scholarship that you value, that aligns with your vision, and that can be a vehicle for change for the communities, people, and groups you care about most because what’s for you will never miss you.” IYKYK.

(Full caption on FB, LinkedIn, & forthcoming on my in progress new website!) by @drbritwilliams

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2 years ago

FREE #halleberry from the shackles of needing to be on 24/7!! #motherhood #childfree #women #TMZ taken in New York City by @drbritwilliams

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3 days ago

Ladies… don’t let a man play with you. Leave him where he has you messed up, even if it costs you @amazon access BC they don’t care about women’s safety. And for the record, I don’t care about being kicked off— my parents and siblings have various family accounts (that amazon won’t let me join). I care about the use of it as a form of manipulation to get a text back. 😴 #manipulation #single #breakups #amazonprime #datingproblems taken in Atlanta, Georgia by @drbritwilliams

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5 days ago

I’m just a girl from the SWATS who loves the state of Georgia, Metro Atlanta, and wants the GOOD put back in public good. If you’re in #dekalbcounty Georgia and don’t know where to start this election, I invite you to review my ballot choices! P.S. I am NOT a graphic designer and I don’t do AI so like and move on, or make me a cute one for free lol. #GADem #midterms #vote taken in Decatur, Georgia by @drbritwilliams

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5 days ago

Did yall get #vaxxed or nah? Did I get played down to the #CVS? #covid #flu #vaccines taken in Burlington, Vermont by @drbritwilliams

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8 days ago

Until I find he who speaks life over & actualizes true love with me, I shall keep moving forward. 🥰 #dating #marriage #love #happiness #travel taken in House of Blues Anaheim by @drbritwilliams

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a month ago

Week 1 of #sabbatical means making time for the #USOpen for the second year in a row. 🎾 I truly love a #grandslam & I’m making time to get busy living beyond work. #tennis #academia taken in Arthur Ashe Stadium by @drbritwilliams

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2 months ago

I am making this face about having to leave #Malta to go back home. Tag yourself. Which one are you? 😂 #TravelNoire #mentalreset #timeaway #happiness taken in Hilton Malta by @drbritwilliams

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17 days ago

I’m just trying to get wet and be happy… 🤷🏽‍♀️ Am I alone? #malta #travel #swimming #travelnoire #Europe taken in Gozo Island, Malta by @drbritwilliams

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14 days ago

I ended summer and welcomed fall with a Euro-Mediterranean reset. I’m thankful for girl friends who love me and all my quirks. If you watched #demthrones (I didn’t) some of this will look familiar! #malta #gameofthrones #mdinamalta #rabatmalta taken in Mdina (The Silent City) Malta by @drbritwilliams

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11 days ago