Lynette Chappell-williams JD

Lynette Chappell-Williams graduated from JMU in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in psychology and sociology. She received a Juris Doctor degree from Ohio State University in 1982. Chappell-Williams currently resides in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and works as the chief diversity officer and associate dean for diversity and inclusion at Penn State Health of Penn State University College of Medicine.

Chappell-Williams has an extensive career working to improve diversity at a variety of universities. She served as the director of affirmative action and associate vice president of multicultural programs at the Illinois Institute of Technology from 1990 to 1993. She was also the director of the Office of Equal Employment at George Washington University for six years. Chappell-Williams spent 16 years at Cornell University where she served as the director of workforce diversity, equity, and life quality and as the associate vice president of inclusion and workforce diversity. Chappell-Williams credits her psychology courses at JMU with helping her achieve success in addressing diversity issues.