Jenny Snead Williams has participated in the development of Latino/a Studies as a program at Duke since 2002, when she joined the University's staff. She coordinated Latino/a Studies as a secondary responsibility to her main position as Academic Program Coordinator for Latin American and Caribbean Studies until 2006. At that time, Latino/a Studies became a unit separate from (though still in collaboration with) the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and Snead Williams migrated with Latino/a Studies to serve as Program Coordinator. She was promoted to Executive Director of the newly approved Program in Latino/a Studies in the Global South (LSGS) in 2008.
Snead Williams' professional experience includes developing and administering curricular programs; designing and implementing interdisciplinary activities and events; curating large-scale exhibits; managing research competitions; advising students; overseeing budgets; and coordinating visiting professors, scholars, and activists.
With LSGS, Snead Williams led the conceptualization and creation of the undergraduate certificate proposal, "Latino/a Studies in the Global South." She coordinated the Global Americas Focus program, serving as Instructor for the Interdisciplinary Discussion Course and as leader of service learning and research service learning components. She also co-taught the Introduction to Latino/a Studies course in 2009. And, over the past seven years, Snead Williams has co-developed and co-directed two DukeEngage programs, "Encuentros de la Frontera: U.S.-Mexico Border Civic Engagement" and "The Many Faces of Miami" that focus on issues of migration, policy, and human rights.
Administering student and faculty research and conference awards, facilitating community outreach efforts, providing student guidance, and collaborating with faculty, staff, and students on event coordination are all part of Snead Williams' weekly activities. She represents, as well, LSGS in collaborations with various departments at Duke, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and regional, national, and international associations.
Snead Williams completed a Bachelor of Arts at Wofford College (Spartanburg, S.C.), double-majoring in sociology and Spanish, and earning a certificate in Latin American Studies. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with highest distinction in her studies. After teaching English abroad and working in management in the United States, she returned to school to earn her Master of Science degree at North Carolina State University in the Department of Sociology, with a graduate minor in Anthropology. Her Master's thesis examined housing and community relations for new Latino migrants in North Carolina.
Office Location: 122 Friedl (East Campus)
Office Phone: (919) 684-4375
Email Address: jennysw@duke.edu