Staff Writer
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| Dorothy Williams while interviewed by the Examiner/ Photo by Will Lofgren |
Dr. Magdalena Caproiu and Professor Flores Kagan nominated Williams for the award, and the academic senate voted her one of the winners. “I was surprised, but excited. It was like someone noticed me after all these years.” Williams said.
“I enjoy helping students succeed,” she said. “I want my award to represent my hard work and also to give credit to other educators. They deserve the award just as much as I do.”
Williams will fly out to receive her award in Sacramento on Mar. 5.
After more than thirty years, Williams will retire at the end of the Spring 2012. “I want to travel with my husband, work non-profit and attend church,” Williams said.
She is in the process of working on her Ph.D. at Grambling State University.
Williams started as an AVC student worker in 1977, became an adjunct English teacher in 1981, and then a full-time teacher in 1986.
During her time as a teacher, Williams taught people such as Isaiah Rider, the former NBA star, was well known, “I enjoyed teaching him, along with other students who became teachers in the future.”
“I work at the Palmdale Center and the students are great and more motivated than at Lancaster. They did not have access to campus before, now they can. It is amazing to them and they are grateful,” she said.
“Hopefully, one day the Palmdale campus will be built and I will be able to be able to see its completion,” Williams said.
Dorothy Williams continues to help students in the learning center every day that she is available. She is at the Palmdale campus on Mondays and Tuesdays and at the Lancaster campus on Wednesday through Friday.
