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Honors College Distinguished Alumni Award

Celebrating outstanding alumni

This award recognizes Honors College alumni for their professional achievements, contributions to society, and exceptional service to the College of Charleston.

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2024 Honors College Distinguished Alumni Award

Derrick L. Williams ’99

Derrick L. Williams ’99 is a founding partner of Williams & Roche, a Columbia-based law firm specializing in representing injured workers and mediating civil litigation matters. Recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” in the 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers for Claimants Workers’ Compensation Law, Mr. Williams has built a distinguished legal career while maintaining a deep commitment to public service and the College of Charleston.

A native of Florence, SC, Mr. Williams earned his BA in English from the College in 1999, graduating from the Honors Program. During his time at CofC, he was active in the Black Student Union and served as team captain for both the Cross Country and Track teams. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2002.

In 2007, Mr. Williams was appointed as one of the youngest-ever Commissioners of the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission, serving until 2013. He spearheaded the introduction of mediation for complex injury cases in the state, significantly impacting the workers’ compensation landscape.

He has served as President of the Riverbanks Zoo Society Board and on the Executive Committees for the Richland County Bar Association and the Central Carolina Community Foundation. Mr. Williams’ dedication to the College is exemplified through his service as President of the Alumni Association from 2020-22. He has also served on the Honors College and English Department Alumni Advisory Boards and was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly to the College’s Board of Trustees in 2023.

Mr. Williams resides in Columbia, SC, with his wife, Alana, and their daughters, Regan and Deana. They are dedicated supporters of the College, generously contributing to key initiatives such as the 1967 Legacy Program Fund and the Otto B. German ’73 Endowed Alumni Scholarship in Athletics Fund.

Honors College Distinguished Alumni Award Past Recipients

2024 – Mildred Embree, Ph.D ’02
2023 – Sara DeWolf, J.D. ’02
2022 – Colleen Condon ’92
2021 – Kenyatta L. Gardner ’08
2020 – Stephanie B. Wheeler ’03
2019 – Susan West Story ’93
2018 – Michael S. Shemtov ’00
2017 – Arlinda Locklear, J.D. ’76
2016 – Lisa Broome, Ph.D ’92
2015 – Melissa Siegel, Ph.D ’03
2014 – James G. Hodge Jr., J.D., LLM ’89
2013 – Howard L. Hall, Ph.D ’85
2012 – Wills Geils, MD ’88
2011 – Beth Middleton Burke, J.D. ’94
2010 – Steve Swanson ’89