From GED to PhD: Bridgewater State professor defies all odds and lights the way

BROCKTON — From a young age, Wendy Williams was faced with adversity, becoming a parent at 15 and dropping out of high school at 16 — but she didn't let these obstacles deter her.

Williams went on to earn her PhD in social work and become an associate professor with a tenure track at Bridgewater State University.

The journey from GED to PhD was empowering and now gives students hope that success is obtainable, no matter where you came from in life, Williams said.

After joining Bridge Over Troubled Waters, a Boston-based agency geared to helping teens with challenging life circumstances, Williams was ready to obtain a GED and elevate her life with more education.

The program helped and encouraged Williams to apply to college. Once accepted, the young scholar attended Roxbury Community College in 1987.

"I can remember sitting at the side of my teacher's desk, applying to college, and I wasn't feeling hopeful at all, but I was willing to try it," she said.

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"I was more comfortable with the idea of failing than succeeding. When I was accepted and took my first classes at RCC, I did well. I felt like I belonged there," Williams said.

During this time at RCC, she felt seen by her professors and enjoyed going to class and learning new lessons.

Before she felt out of place in high school being a young Black mom — stereotypes and stigmas clouded her mind with negativity, but that did not last long.

Williams felt a shift in her attitude toward education while attending college. It was a fulfillment high school did not give her, Williams said.

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There was a fire that ignited after leaving the first day of classes. Williams majored in psychology from that day forward, fell in love with the human mind and continued her education.

"The faculty at RCC made a big difference. They encouraged my growth and I just kept going. I graduated RCC in 1991, went to Wheelock College, graduated in 1993, then got my masters at Boston University in 1994, and got my PhD at Simmons college in 2015," Williams said.

Williams feels a great responsibility with earning her PhD to enrich the lives of students around her and be a beacon of light for those who seek a realistic example.

"I share my story to encourage and motivate my students at Bridgewater, and also I stay connected with Bridge Under Troubled Waters to share my story and help the populations they support," Williams said.

"I use platform and privilege to share narratives that are not often talked about. I try to use the influence and access I have to provide an alternative narrative," Williams said.

Williams currently teaches advanced practice courses at BSU and runs her own private therapy practice.

One of the challenges she faced during this process of elevating her education was imposter syndrome, not feeling like she belonged in some of her spaces. However, the support of her family and friends gave her confidence and they constantly affirm her sense of belonging, Williams said.

"Earning a PhD feels like I accomplished something that wasn't on my radar for someone from my life experience, that's not the epitome of someone who earns a PhD," she said.

"Then when you look at the data of who earns a PhD, less than 3% of individuals with PhDs who are in higher education are tenured or full-time tenured track faculty. The representation of Black and brown faculty is less, very small. It's less than 5%," Williams said.

"I try to share my story from a place of resilience. You're not emulating me. It's really about being a tangible and realistic example of being persistent and making things happen for yourself," Williams said.

Enterprise staff reporter Alisha Saint-Ciel can be reached by email at stciela@gannett.com You can follow her on Twitter at @alishaspeakss. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Bridgewater State: BSU Professor Wendy Williams goes from GED to PhD