Alumni / Milestones in Diversity / Neysa Williams

Neysa Burkes Williams ’95

CofC alumna Neysa Burkes Williams ’95, lives in Columbia, SC. In April 2018, she retired after more than 20 years of service in the U.S. Army. Ms. Williams is currently the public affairs specialist for Moncrief Army Health Clinic at Fort Jackson training base in Columbia. Her specialties include public outreach campaigns, increasing media exposure, and strategic marketing initiatives.

Her fondest memories of her time at the College are establishing lifelong friendships and the confidence she gained by obtaining a degree from a prestigious university.

Drawn to the award-winning science department at the College of Charleston, Ms. Williams was proud to call CofC her home. “The College offered all the perks of a college town and its amazing nearby beaches,” she said. After earning her Bachelors of Science degree in Sociology and minoring in Psychology at the College, she continued her education at Webster University where she earned a Master of Arts in business development and human resources. Ms. Williams didn’t stop there. She is currently working on her dissertation at Capella University, seeking a doctorate in organizational management and human relations.

In her spare time, Ms. Williams enjoys reading and visiting museums and galleries in Charleston.

Her experiences at the College taught her to work hard and reap the benefits later. “You only get one chance to make a good first impression,” she said. To current students, Ms. Williams advises, “Your college experience shapes the rest of your life. Develop relationships with people who are different from you; take a philosophy class; get involved in the community; form supportive friendships that will last a lifetime and, most importantly, study and get good grades. Live life to the fullest!”

In 2016, Ms. Willams (center) poses with fellow soldiers at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait