Dr. Handy Williamson, Jr.

Introduction

Curriculum Vitae

Experience

Research

Scholarly Work

Consulting

Photo Gallery

INTRODUCTION

Dr. Handy Williamson, Jr., currently serving as the Vice Provost for International Programs at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Prior to joining the University of Missouri, he served over ten years as a Professor and Department Head in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at the University of Tennessee. While there, the scope of his work was both global and local, including institutional development, impact assessment and evaluation, and public policy.

Between 1985 and 1988, Dr. Williamson was Deputy Director for Research and University Relations, the Bureau for Science and Technology (S&T/RUR) at the Agency for International Development (AID), in Washington, D.C. in that capacity he allocated and provided oversight for a $10 million annual budget to support grants with U.S. universities in the fields of agriculture, education, public health, medicine, natural resources, and development.

From 1977 to 1985, Dr. Williamson was an Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics, Director of the Cooperative Agricultural Research Program, and Coordinator of International Agricultural Development Activities at Tennessee State University - Nashville. He worked for three years as an Associate Director of the Center for Rural Development Research and Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics at Tuskegee University-Alabama since graduating with a Ph.D. degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1974.

Dr. Williamson's research and publications include economic and rural development studies affecting land use, resource management, manpower training, research and extension development, and efficiency of small and large farms in diverse geographical settings. He has served on over twenty site visit teams to evaluate university programs and to conduct self study evaluations. He has been a consultant on many projects and review teams in Africa, the Caribbean, the Far East, and the United States. He served on the White House Committee on Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) and represented AID, broadly. He has testified before committees of both the U S House of Representatives and Senate.

During the summer of 2006, Williamson was selected as a fellow discussant of the Salzburg Seminar, in Salzburg Austria . He completed the Harvard University Executive Leadership certificate in the Institute for Education Management in 2005. Nominated by Missouri 's senior senator, Williamson has participated in the Annual Congressional Leadership Summer in Capital Hill in Washington, DC. Sponsored by the American Council on Education, Dr. Williamson had a chance of being an Executive Fellow in the 1997-98 academic year in the Office of the Chancellor at the University of California-Davis and gained first-hand experience and preparation for leadership roles in higher education administration. Williamson received awards and honors, such as Distinguished Alumni Award by Alcorn State University and Tennessee State University, and the prestigious Faculty Alumni Award from the University of Missouri. He has been recognized among Outstanding Black Agricultural Economist, Outstanding Young Man of America, Who's Who in America, Tennessee Men of Achievement, and American Men and Women of Science.

Finally, Dr. Williamson is most thankful to his wife, Barbara (Herndon) Williamson. Her support has played an incredible part in his ability to achieve career success and a happy life.


Mississippi, the birthplace of the blues, is named after the Mississippi River, a Native American word which means "Father of Waters". Growing up in Mississippi, I was nurtured by its unique and rich culture and musical heritage. This precious spiritual wealth has given me courage, confidence, and inspiration to pursue my life goals and career aspirations.