Emily Williams

Director of Communications, UNC Institute for the Environment

Biography

Emily Williams is the director of communications for the UNC Institute for the Environment, where she partners with researchers, staff, students and stakeholders to cultivate stories and share them with the world. To enhance the mission of the Institute, Williams promotes a broad range of world-class environmental research, education, community engagement and sustainability work across campus and beyond. The Institute maintains a suite of successful storytelling assets including a website, e-newsletter and social media channels. Williams works with other units, institutions, stakeholders and the media-at-large to amplify storytelling efforts. Williams also supports communications efforts for the Institute’s successful annual GiveUNC campaigns and the record-breaking Campaign for Carolina, which closed in Dec. of 2022, surpassing its $12 million goal.

Prior to joining the Institute in 2015, Williams was the senior director of communications for the Division of Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Georgia where she built and led a team of communications professionals to inspire engagement and giving for its billion dollar fundraising campaign. Over her career, Williams has worked in various communications roles at Ohio University, the University of Virginia and the University of Georgia. Williams earned her undergraduate degree in communication with a focus on video production and her graduate degree in organizational communication, both from Ohio University.

Education

M.A., Communication, Ohio University, 2004

B.S., Communication, Ohio University 2003