Lia Williams is a doctoral student in the School Psychology program at the University of California, Berkeley. A California native, she attended Stanford University, where she received her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Education. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she earned her M.A. in Special Education from the University of San Francisco while working as an Education Specialist for students with Mild to Moderate Support Needs at a public charter high school in East Palo Alto. A highlight of her teaching career was serving as the advisor for the school’s Black Student Union.
Her prior research focused on teacher well-being interventions and culturally responsive Multi-Tiered Systems of Support practices. Her current research examines how youth participatory action research can be used to understand and foster the agency of students of color navigating special education systems, structures, and practices.
