College

Liberal Arts

Department

Communication Studies

Category

Journalism

Areas of Expertise

Organizational leadership

Elizabeth Williams

Williams, director of graduate studies for the College of Liberal Arts and affiliate faculty member in the Colorado School of Public Health, focuses on communication in a variety of organizational contexts.

Williams’ current research focuses on the practices and processes of high-reliability organizations, such as fire departments, to ensure the health and safety of their members: how these organizations respond to accidents, ensure organizational learning, and use wearable health technologies.

Williams co-edited Organizations, Communication, and Health (winner of the 2017 NCA Organizational Communication Division Edited Book Award) and has published numerous articles and book chapters.

Williams is a member of several professional associations, including the International Communication Association, the National Communication Association, and the Central States Communication Association. She currently serves as an advisory board member for ResponderStrong, an organization committed to the mental health of first responders.

Williams received her B.A. in organizational communication and business administration from Alma College in 2001. She then studied organizational communication at Purdue University, earning her M.A. in 2007 and her Ph.D. in 2011.