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Yolonda Williams, Ph.D.
Yolonda Williams, Ph.D.
Cell: 708-261-4182
Email address: yolondaw@yahoo.com
www.linkedin.com/in/yolondaw/
EDUCATION
2012
Ph.D., National Louis University, Chicago, IL
Major: Community Psychology
Dissertation: Understanding Factors that Motivate Parents to Participate in
Children’s Elementary Education. Chair: Judah Viola, Ph.D.
2011
Thesis: Parents Still Know Best: A study of Parents’ Perceptions of Parental
Involvement in Children’s Education. Chair: Judah Viola, Ph.D.
2007
2004
Masters of Public Administration, Governor State University, University Park, IL
Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice, Governor State University, University Park, I
PUBLICATIONS
Jason, L.A., Kot, B., Sunnquist, M., Brown, A., Evans, M., Jantke, R., Williams, Y., Furst, J., &
Vernon, S.D. (2015). Chronic fatigue Syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis: Toward an
empirical case definition. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine: An Open Access Journal.
Williams, Yolonda, J., Jantke, Rachel, L., and Jason, Leonard, A. (2014). Chronic fatigue
syndrome: Case definitions and diagnostic assessment. NYS Psychologist, 26, 41-45.
Baté-Ambrus, V. M., Castillo, A., & Williams, Y. (2013) Chicago area community health worker
training and certification policy development: A qualitative analysis (Chicago: Chicago Community
Health Worker Local Network; Chicago: Health & Medicine Policy Research Group) Available
from Chicago Community Health Worker Local Network.
Book Chapter
McBride, Dominica. F., & Williams, Yolonda J, (2013). Health disparities: Creating equity through
addressing trauma. In Owen T. Jackson, and Kathleen A. Evans, Health Disparities: Epidemiology,
Racial/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Risk Factors and Strategies for Elimination. Hauppauge, NY:
Nova Science Publishers. (pp. 127-146).
BLOG
Williams, Yolonda. & Jantke, Rachel. (2014). Our experience transforming theory into action as
early-career community psychologists. Community Psychology Practice Council
Yolonda Williams, Ph.D.
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(http://communitypsychologypractice.blogspot.mx/2014/11/our-experience-transforming-theoryinto.html?m=1).
PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES AND SERVICES
Thorpe, S., Nicholson, L., Ohanian, D., Reed, J., Sunnquist, M., Kidd, E., Williams, Y., Jantke, R.,
& Jason, L.A. (2015, May). Collaborations between community Psychologists and medical
professionals: Reducing illness stigma. Roundtable presented at the Society for Research and
Action’s Affiliate meeting at the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Reed, J., Brown, A., Jantke, R., Jason, L. A., Lara, B., Nicholson, L., O’Connor, K., Sunnquist, M.,
Williams, Y., Wise, S., Zdunek, M., Anderson, V., Awsumb, J., & McAlindon, K. (2014,
October). Walking the line between Advocacy and research: Real world examples of the community
psychologist’s dilemma. Roundtable presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest EcologicalCommunity Psychology, Lisle, IL.
McManimen, S., Williams, Y., & Jason, L. A. (2014, October). The role of sample recruitment in
symptom prevalence rates for chronic fatigue syndrome. Poster presented at the annual meeting of
the Midwest Ecological-Community Psychology, Lisle, IL.
Williams, Y., Viola, J., Belyaev-Glantsman, O., Back, L., Berardi, L., Garate, T., Harvey, R.,
Palmer, G., & Reinhart, C. (2014, October). I have a degree in community psychology…. Now
what? Innovative format presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Ecological-Community
Psychology, Lisle, IL.
Jordan Reed, DePaul University; Abigail Brown, DePaul University; Rachel Jantke, DePaul
University; Leonard Jason, DePaul University; Brenda Lara, DePaul University; Laura Nicholson,
DePaul University; Kelly O’Connor, DePaul University; Madison Sunnquist, DePaul University;
Yolonda Williams, DePaul University; Shelby Wise, DePaul University; Maria Zdunek, DePaul
University; Valerie Anderson, Michigan State University; Jessica Awsumb, University of Illinois at
Chicago; Katie McAlindon, Michigan State University. (October 2014). Walking the line between
advocacy and research: Real world examples of the community psychologist’s dilemma. Roundtable
Discussion presented at the annual Midwest Ecological Community Conference. Lisle, IL
Palmer, Geraldine, Lawrence, Charles, and Williams, Yolonda. (May 2013). Implications for
Community Psychology in a Charity Versus Justices Justice Framework. Roundtable Discussion
presented at the annual Midwestern Psychological Association SCRA Conference. Chicago, IL.
Lawrence, Charles, Palmer, Geraldine, and Williams, Yolonda. (May 2013). Supportive Services
for Veterans: Differentiate Between the Concepts of Partnership/Collaboration. Roundtable
Discussion presented at the annual Midwestern Psychological Association SCRA Conference.
Chicago, IL.
Long, T., Markuson, L., Williams, Y., Lynch, K., Paavola, E., Olson, B., Viola, J., Fromm-Reed, S.,
& Legler, R. (May, 2011). A Conversation around Empowerment in the Context of Educational
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Yolonda Williams, Ph.D.
Institutions. Roundtable presented at the Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological
Association. Chicago, IL.
Peer Reviewer
September 2014
2014 Midwest Ecological-Community Psychology (ECO) Conference
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Member on the proposal submission reviewer committee for the Midwest EcologicalCommunity Psychology Conference
The American Evaluation Association
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April 2013
Reviewed proposals for the American Evaluation Association Annual Community
Psychology TIG Conference
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2009-2012
Researcher
• Conducted research on elementary school education for both a qualitative and
a mixed-method study about parents involvement in their children’s
elementary education
• Recruited participants
• Collected and compiled researched data
• Entered and analyzed quantitative data through SPSS
• Analyzed qualitative data from interviews
• Presented findings to thesis and dissertation committee
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2002 - 2005
2012-2014
Teacher
Illinois Montessori School, Park Forest, IL
• Provided classroom guidance and instructions to children aged 3-5 in both
groups and one-on-one.
• Developed and implemented monthly curricula that addressed various aspects
of children’s developmental processes, such as motor skills, social, emotional,
and language development in accordance with the established policies and
procedure
PROJECT CONSULTANT
Program Evaluation Consultant
BECOME, Inc.
• Conduct research for program evaluation plans
• Develop testing instruments for evaluation projects
• Collect data
• Analyze and interpret quantitative and qualitative data
• Write, review, and edit evaluation reports
• Facilitate focus groups
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Yolonda Williams, Ph.D.
2012-2013
2012
• Collaborate in writing manuscripts for publication
• Present research findings
Qualitative Coder Consultant
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group
• Analyzed quantitative data
• Analyzed qualitative data from interviews and focus groups
• Drafted interim and final reports
• Presented findings to Board of Directors
Organizational Development Consultant
Louis Rawls Foundation
• Constructed a strategic plan for organization restructuring/development
• Grant Writing
• Provided program development consultation
• Conducted program evaluation
• Developed community profiles
• Assisted with board development
APPLIED EXPERIENCE
2013-Present Project Director
DePaul University
 Manage the day-to-day project operations and grant budget for a NIH
longitudinal prospective health study
 Prepare appropriate documentations for IRB submissions
 Supervise undergraduate, graduate, and student employees’ independent
research projects.
 Perform quantitative and qualitative data analysis and report results at weekly
research and senior staff meetings
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2005–2013
Analyze and utilize outcome data as a basis for continuous project
improvements; facilitate weekly research meetings.
Participate in conference presentations, report writing, and manuscript
formulation.
Project Manager
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
• Conducted document research; performed extensive data entry; provided
customer service.
• Managed various office projects assigned by executives and the Chief Deputy
Clerk.
• Worked with management and the Chief Deputy Clerk to research and
analyze existing or potential threats to the division’s operations;
recommended tangible, cost-efficient and time sensitive solutions.
• Created daily reports
• Participated in organizational development initiatives
Yolonda Williams, Ph.D.
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Assisted with training employees.
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Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA)
Master of Public Administration Club, Governor State University
Chicago-land Evaluation Association
MEMBERSHIPS
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