Joe Williams of Stillwater, Oklahoma, received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from New Mexico State University and his doctoral degree from Iowa State University. After graduating with his Ph.D., he joined the OSU Department of Agricultural Economics in 1975.

 

Williams was appointed as director of the Initiative for the Future of Rural Oklahoma in 2002. That same year, he was selected as the fifth director of the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program, beginning with Class XI and continuing through Class XIV.

 

The Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program assists potential leaders in developing a deeper understanding of themselves and other people, including personal and group study interaction, communications skills and leadership roles in Oklahoma agriculture.

 

Referred to as “my favorite professor,” Williams has had a tremendous impact on the students he taught and advised throughout the years and is a great resource in keeping OSU Agriculture connected with agricultural economics alumni.