A first-generation college student, Dr. Williams (she/they) graduated Cum Laude from Hofstra University, attended the Albert Einstein College of Medicine for their graduate studies, and pursued a postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University. Currently an Associate Professor at Emory Hopkins, Dr. Williams’ research is at the intersection of substance abuse and HIV neuroscience, focusing on the impact of cocaine on HIV infection in the brain and evaluating whether cannabinoids can be used to modulate immune responses to HIV and restore neurologic health. As an Autistic, nonbinary, Black woman who comes from a disadvantaged background, Dr. Williams is passionate about supporting trainees from marginalized groups in their scientific journeys.