Eddie N Williams

Eddie N. Williams is President Emeritus of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, which he headed from 1972 to 2004. He also is President and CEO of his newly formed consulting firm in Washington, DC, Eddie Williams and Associates, which advises corporations, non-profit organizations, and individuals, and is a Visiting Public Policy Fellow at Howard University. Under Williams’ leadership, the Joint Center earned a national reputation as “the premiere black think tank” which conducts research and analyses on major public policy issues of special concern to African Americans and other communities of color. Before coming to the Joint Center in 1972, Williams was Vice President for Public Affairs and Director of the Center for Policy Study at The University of Chicago. During his four-year stint at The University, he hosted numerous radio and television programs and was an editorial columnist for The Chicago Sun Times newspaper. He also has held positions in foreign affairs (U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and U.S. Department of State) and in journalism. During the early 1990's, Williams was a frequent guest commentator on the McNeil-Lehrer News Hour on PBS. Williams is a graduate of the University of Illinois. He serves on the board of directors of Riggs National Corporation; National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (Chairman Emeritus). He is a member of the National Academy of Public Administration and the Council on Foreign Relations. His first marriage, to Sally E. Smart, ended in divorce. In addition to his wife, the former Jearline Franklin, he is survived by a son from his first marriage, Larry Williams; a stepson, Terrence Reddick; and two grandchildren. A daughter from his first marriage, Traci Lynne Williams, died in 2009.