About Janet M. Williams, Ed.D.

Dr. Williams is a tenured faculty member in the California Community College system, with more than 25 years of experience across higher education, K12, general education, and special education. As a higher education leader, researcher, speaker, and consultant, her work focuses on removing barriers and improving the systems that shape learning. From curriculum development and assessment to Universal Design for Learning, accessibility, technology, data analysis, artificial intelligence and Human Performance Technology, she is passionate about turning research and complex ideas into practical approaches educators can actually use.

Another study or policy does not create equitable learning opportunities for students. Translating that study or policy into a sustainable system that enables educators to do their best work does.

Education & Credentials

Degrees

Doctor of Education (EdD), Instructional & Performance Technology

University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida

Master of Science (MS), eLearning

California State University, East Bay

Hayward, California

Master of Education (MEd), Cross-Cultural Teaching

National University

Costa Mesa, California

Bachelor of Science (BS), Communication (Public Relations)

Sociology Minor

The University of Tennessee at Martin

Martin, TN

Credentials & Certifications

• IAAP Certified Professionals in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC),

International Association of Accessibility Professionals

• UDL Credential 1: Mindset, CAST

• UDL Credential 2: Analysis. CAST

• AI4PI Journey, International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI)

• Performance Improvement Research Methods Certificate,

University of West Florida

• Organizational & Performance Technology Interventions Certificate,

University of West Florida

• Organizational Systems and Leadership in Instructional and Performance

Technology, University of West Florida

• DET/CHE Leadership Program Certificate, Drivers of Educational Technology/

California Higher Education

• Women's Equity and Empowerment Certificate Program, Dr. Yasmin Davidds

Leadership Institute

• eLearning Administration Certificate, California State East Bay

• eLearning Design Certificate, California State East Bay

• Online Teaching and Learning Certificate, California State East Bay

• Peer Online Course Review, The Online Network of Educators

• Certificate in Online Teaching & Design, The Online Network of Educators

• Creating Accessible Course Content, The Online Network of Educators

• Assessment in Digital Learning, The Online Network of Educators

• Professional Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (ID 240091170),

Califoria Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Research & Innovation

Dr. Williams's work focuses on turning research into practical systems, tools, and approaches that improve learning and make it easier for educators to do their best work.

CourseAlign.AI + Rachel the Curriculum Companion

CourseAlign.AI is an Electronic Performance Support System (EPSS) designed to help educators develop aligned, accessible, student-centered learning opportunities. Rachel the Curriculum Companion uses AI to support course design, alignment, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), equitable assessment practices, and curriculum development, acting as a thought partner available 24/7.

Featured Demo

See Rachel the Curriculum Companion in action as she supports equitable course design, alignment, assessment, and UDL-informed course development.

Doctoral Research

Student Learning Outcome Data as a Driver for Postsecondary Institutional, Dr. Improvement, Dr. Williams's dissertation, examined the importance of well-written, observable, measurable outcomes and how SLO data can be used to more effectively to support institutional decision making and improvement.

Current Work

Dr. Williams's current work explores the intersection of accessibility, Universal Design for Learning, student learning data, and artificial intelligence and how Human Performance Technology principles can be leveraged to develop practical tools and processes that improve educational systems, support faculty practice, and create equitable learning opportunities for students.

Leadership & Service

California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO)

Member | Artificial Intelligence (AI) Council | 2024 - Present
CCC DECO Representative | Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Task Force | 2024 - Present

Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC)

Member | Online Education & Educational Technology Committee | 2024–2025
Member & Co-Chair | Common Course Management System (CCMS) Advisory Committee | 2022–2023
CCCCO Title 5 Course Outline of Record Guidance Webinar, ASCCC Representative | 2026

Drivers of Educational Technology/ California Higher Education (DET/CHE)

Director-at-Large | 2025 - Present

California Community Colleges Distance Education Coordinators' Organization (CCC DECO)

Public Information Officer | 2023 - Present

California Virtual Campus (CVC) Consortium

Faculty Co-Chair | 2024 - 2026
CVC Advisory Committee Member | 2024 - 2026

North Orange Couty Community College District (NOCCCD)

Member | Artificial Intelligence Task Force | 2024–2025
Faculty Co-Chair | Distance Education Task Force | 2023–2024
Member | District Technology Implementation Committee | 2022–2024
Member | Technology Committee, Member | 2019–2024

North Orange Continuing
Education (NOCE)

Chair | Distance Education Advisory Group | 2019–2024
Captain | WASC Distance Education Accreditation Reporting, Co-Captain | 2020–2023
Member | Curriculum Committee | 2020–2023
Member | Technology Committee, Member | 2020–2023
Member | Budget Committee | 2015–2019
Senator | Academic Senate | 2014–Present

Beyond the Work

When I’m not working, I love to travel and take pictures of the places I visit, especially landscapes, coastlines, mountains, and anything else that makes me stop and look twice. Photography gives me a reason to slow down, notice patterns, pay attention to the details, and see things I might otherwise miss. I’m especially drawn to interesting juxtapositions of light, textures, and place.