Peter Williams, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Doctoral Program Coordinator

Peter Williams has over 35 years of teaching experience in various contexts, including English as a second language and sixth-grade English in Honduras, literacy education in correctional education, and leadership research in doctoral programs. Peter worked in the central office in curriculum leadership and institutional research roles and held leadership roles in higher education. Since 2009, he has mentored over 35 doctoral students to completion. Peter enjoys researching how we can create workplaces where all can learn, grow, and thrive. Peter loves supporting doctoral students who want to inquire into these areas. He also enjoys roasting and drinking coffee, hiking, looking at the native flora and fauna, and spending time with family and friends. Peter is active in the Academy of Human Resource Development, and the Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalists (Collin & Hunt counties). 

Educational Background

• Ph.D., Educational Human Resource Development, Texas A&M University
• M.A., School Supervision, Abilene Christian University
• B.A., Spanish, Sam Houston State University

Experience

• Associate Professor, Educational Leadership, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2020-present
• Professor, Organizational Leadership, Abilene Christian University Dallas, 2015-2020
• Graduate School Dissertation Chair, Northcentral University, 2013-2015
• Assistant Professor, Organizational Leadership, University of La Verne, 2009-2013
• Dean and Assistant Professor, Distance Education, University of Northern Virginia, 2004-2008
• Director of Distance Education, Rogers State University, 2000-2003

Research Interests

• Adult learning and professional development
• Creating positive organizational cultures in which all can thrive
• Online and distributed learning
• Doctoral education (including student support via podcasting; see Doc101 via podcast apps)
• Social support, hope, resilience, thriving

Selected Publications

• Gottron, D., Williams, P., & Jiang, M. (2024). Hope mediates the relationship between childhood adversity and academic resilience among Appalachian young adults. Theory & Practice in Rural Education, 14(1), 49-72. https://doi.org/10.3776/tpre.2024.v14n1p49-72
• Kim, K. N., Wang, J., & Williams, P. (2024). Self-leadership: A value-added strategy for Human Resource Development. European Journal of Training and Development, 48(10), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-10-2023-0163
• Slaymaker, R.R., O’Byrne, K.K. & Williams, P.E. (2023). The influence of socio-cognitive mindfulness and resilience on middle managers’ stress and thriving during COVID-19: Results from two studies. Journal of Management Development, 42(1), 54-75. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-05-2022-0112
• Williams, P. E. & Kates, M. (2022). Creating a faith-friendly school culture in religiously plural communities: A neglected facet of diversity, School Leadership Review, 17(1), Article 1. https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/slr/vol17/iss1/1
• Salcedo, A., Williams, P., Elias, S., Perez, J., and Valencia, M. (2022). Future direction in HRD: The potential of testimonio as an approach to perturb the dominant practices in the workplace. European Journal of Training and Development, Online first. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-07-2021-0109
• Templeton, N.R. & Williams, P. (2022). Leading through crisis with the power of hope. Texas Study of Secondary Education 31(2) 13-16.
• Allen, S. & Williams, P. (2022). Remote oral doctoral dissertation defenses in management, leadership, and business: Benefits, pedagogy, and practices. Management Teaching Review, 7(3) 208 –225. https://doi.org/10.1177/23792981211013024
• Tucker, L .J. & Williams, P. E. (2021). Abrasive leaders who changed: learning from their experience, Personnel Review, 50(7/8) 1632-1646. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-07-2020-0507
• Allen, S., Williams, P., & Crowson, H. M. (2020). Undergraduate students' perceptions of learning about leadership in multi-faith workplaces. Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion, 17(5) 1-20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14766086.2020.1789498
• Rademaker, L., Self, J. S, & Williams, P. (Hosts). (2020-2023). Doc101 [Audio podcast]. https://anchor.fm/doc101/