Beth Williams

Employer: U.S. Social Security Administration

Graduation Year: 1996

Current Position: District Manager

Biography: Beth Williams is the district manager of the Pospect Heights, IL, office of the Social Security Administration (SSA).  She has worked there since 1997, when she was selected as a Presidential Management Fellow and hired by the Chicago Region office.  Throughout her tenure with SSA, she has worked at the national and regional offices as a supervisor, a staff specialist, and an executive assistant to the regional commissioner.  She has served as the district manager for the past 14 years, overseeing facility operations, personnel and staffing, workload processes, and the general administration of social security within the Pospect Heights area.

Beth received her B.A. in Political Science from Albion College.  She did her Ford internship with the U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources in Washington, D.C.  She also ran cross country and track and was involved with the Residence Hall Association, Student Volunteer Bureau, Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, Alpha Phi Omega, and Phi Beta Kappa.  After graduating from Albion, she went on to earn a Masters of Public Administration (1997) from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University.

She says that being involved in different types of activities at Albion helped lay a solid foundation for her future profession.  She has embraced the service aspect of her career and encourages students to consider jobs in government administration.  "Public service has so many opportunities that will help you learn and grow as a professional."

Beth and her husband, Andy, have two children and live in Chicago, IL.


"The interdisciplinary nature of my experience at Albion has had a direct relationship to my ability to do the interdisciplinary nature of my position."