President of Principia College

John W. Williams, JD, was the inaugural recipient of the Principia College Horace Edwin Harper Jr. and Evelyn Wright Harper Award for Teaching Excellence in 2013. During his 37 years at Principia College, Williams has taught American government, law, and comparative politics courses, coached intercollegiate mock trial, moot court, and Model Illinois Government teams, served as pre-law advisor, and held additional teaching assignments in mass communication, global perspectives, and history. He has directed more than a dozen Principia study abroad programs to mainland East Asia and has served as a popular lecturer for the Principia Lifelong Learning and Summer Session programs. Williams has also served two terms as president of the Illinois Political Science Association.

Previously, Williams was elected as president of the Faculty Senate for two separate terms, and he served as interim president of Principia College for eight months prior to being selected as president.

Before joining Principia, Williams worked in the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice and as an attorney in private practice. He earned a juris doctor degree from The George Washington University and is a 1976 graduate of Principia College.

Contact Information

Email: president@principia.edu
Phone: 618.374.5148