Research Focus

African American studies; alcohol and drug prevention; HIV/STD; community health and addiction; urban issues; migration; Diasporas; religion; Oceania

Academic Summary

Dr. Williams received his BA (1969) from Rust College and his MS (1971) and PhD (1981) in anthropology from the University of Illinois at Urbana. Drawing upon an early interest in Third World cultures and the African Diaspora, Dr. Williams has developed active research interests in African and African American studies, community health and addiction, religion, and urban issues. Dr. Williams served as founder and director of the African and African American Studies Program at The University of Memphis from 1997-2001. Over the past fifteen years, he has directed various research projects dealing with community health, mental health, homelessness, religion, alcohol and drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, mutual aid societies, and economic development.

Dr. Williams is very active with the local community and contributes to various organizations and groups in a variety of ways. Dr. Williams founded the Tennessee Outcomes for Alcohol and Drug Services (TOADS) in 1988 and was director of it until 2000. Currently, he is the director of a number of research projects including the Tennessee Alcohol and Drug Prevention Outcomes Longitudinal Evaluation (TADPOLE), Minority Health TADPOLE, Community-Based TADPOLE, and Tennessee HIV/STD Prevention Evaluation. The majority of these studies are funded by the Tennessee Department of Health.

Recent Publications

Kedia, S., and C. Williams. “Predictors of Substance Abuse Treatment Outcomes in Tennessee.” Journal of Drug Education 33, no. 1 (2003): 25-74.

Kim, S., J.H. McLeod, C. Williams, and N.A. Hepler. “Prevention Validation and Accounting Platform: A Framework for Establishing Accountability and Performance Measures of Substance Abuse Prevention Programs.” Journal of Drug Education 30, no. 1 (2000): 1-143.

Kim, S., L. Wurster, C. Williams, and N.A. Hepler. “Algorithms for Resource Allocation of Substance Abuse Prevention Funds Based on Social Indicators: A Case Study of State of Florida—Part 1.” Journal of Drug Education 28, no. 2 (1998): 87-106.

Kim, S., L. Wurster, C. Williams, and N.A. Hepler. “Algorithms for Resource Allocation of Substance Abuse Prevention Funds Based on Social Indicators: A Case Study of State of Florida—Part 2.” Journal of Drug Education 28, no. 3 (1998): 69-184.

Kim, S., L. Wurster, C. Williams, and N.A. Hepler. “Algorithms for Resource Allocation of Substance Abuse Prevention Funds Based on Social Indicators: A Case Study of the State of Florida—Part 3.” Journal of Drug Education 28, no. 4 (1998): 283-306.

Brookoff, D., K. O’Brien, C. Cook, C. Williams, and S. Thompson. “Characteristics of Participants in Domestic Violence: Assessment at the Scene of Domestic Assault.” Journal of the American Medical Association 277, no. 17 (1997): 1369-1373.

Kim, S., S.D. Coletti, C. Williams, and N.A. Hepler. “Toward a New Paradigm in Substance Abuse and Other Problem Behavior Prevention for Youth: Youth Development and Empowerment Approach.” Journal of Drug Education 28, no. 1 (1997): 1-17.

Rainey, P., D. Brookoff, and C. Williams. “Testing of Reckless Drivers for Substance Abuse.” New England Journal of Medicine 332, no. 6 (1995): 892-893.

Kim, S., S.D. Coletti, C.C. Crutchfield, C. Williams, and N.A. Hepler. “Benefits-Cost Analysis of Drug Abuse Prevention Programs:  A Macroscopic Approach.” Journal of Drug Education 25, no. 2 (1995): 111-127.

Kim, S., S.D. Coletti, C. Williams, and N.A. Hepler. “Substance Abuse Prevention Involving Asian/Pacific Islander American Communities.” In Drug Abuse Prevention With Multi-Ethnic Youth, edited by G. J. Botvin, S. Schinke, and M. A. Orlandi, 293-324. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, Inc., 1995. 

Recent Policy Papers and Applied Reports

Williams, Charles, Jebose Okwumabua, Seok Wong, and Dongyue Fu. Tennessee Alcohol and Drug Prevention Outcomes Longitudinal Evaluation (TADPOLE) Annual Report of Outcomes: Fiscal 2004/05. Memphis, TN: Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Tennessee Department of Health, 2005.

Williams, Charles, Jebose Okwumabua, Seok Wong, and Dongyue Fu. Office of Minority Health Black Health Initiatives Program Outcomes: Annual Reports to Agencies-2004-05. Memphis, TN: Office of Minority Health, Tennessee Department of Health, 2005.

Williams, Charles, Jebose Okwumabua, Seok Wong, and Dongyue Fu. Office of Minority Health Black Health Initiatives Program Outcomes: Annual Reports of Outcomes for Minority Health-2004-05. Memphis, TN: Office of Minority Health, Tennessee Department of Health, 2005.

Williams, Charles, Jebose Okwumabua, Seok Wong, and Dongyue Fu. Community-Based ATOD Prevention Initiatives 2003-04 Agency Reports. Memphis, TN: Students Taking A Right Stand (STARS) and Sumner County Public School System, 2004.

Williams, Charles, Jebose Okwumabua, Seok Wong, and Dongyue Fu. Office of Minority Health Black Health Initiatives Program Outcomes: Annual Reports of Outcomes for Minority Health-2003-04. Memphis, TN: Office of Minority Health, Tennessee Department of Health, 2004.

Williams, Charles, Jebose Okwumabua, Seok Wong, and Dongyue Fu. Office of Minority Health Black Health Initiatives Program Outcomes: Annual Reports to Agencies-2003-04. Memphis, TN: Office of Minority Health, Tennessee Department of Health, 2004.

Williams, Charles, Jebose Okwumabua, Seok Wong, and Dongyue Fu. Tennessee Alcohol and Drug Prevention Outcomes Longitudinal Evaluation (TADPOLE) Annual Report of Outcomes: Fiscal 2003/04. Memphis, TN: Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Tennessee Department of Health, 2004.

Williams, Charles, Jebose Okwumabua, Seok Wong, and Dongyue Fu. Tennessee Alcohol and Drug Prevention Outcomes Longitudinal Evaluation (TADPOLE) Annual Reports to Agencies, Fiscal 2003/04. Memphis, TN: Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Tennessee Department of Health, 2004.

Williams, Charles, M. Kanu, N.A. Hepler, and Glenn A. Fleming. Tennessee HIV/STD Prevention Evaluation Study, 2004. Memphis, TN: Tennessee Department of Health, HIV/AIDS Community Services Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004.

Williams, Charles, Jebose Okwumabua, Seok Wong, and Dongyue Fu. Community-Based ATOD Prevention Initiatives 2002-03 Agency Reports. Memphis, TN: Students Taking A Right Stand (STARS) and Sumner County Public School System, 2003. 

Williams, Charles, Jebose Okwumabua, Seok Wong, and Dongyue Fu. Office of Minority Health Black Health Initiatives Program Outcomes: Annual Reports of Outcomes for Minority Health-2002-03. Memphis, TN: Office of Minority Health, Tennessee Department of Health, 2003.

Williams, Charles, Jebose Okwumabua, Seok Wong, and Dongyue Fu. Office of Minority Health Black Health Initiatives Program Outcomes: Annual Reports to Agencies-2002-03. Memphis, TN: Office of Minority Health, Tennessee Department of Health, 2003.

Williams, Charles, M. Kanu, N.A. Hepler, and Glenn A. Fleming. Tennessee HIV/STD Prevention Evaluation Study, 2003. Memphis, TN: Tennessee Department of Health, HIV/AIDS Community Services Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003.

Research Projects

Williams, Charles (PI). Tennessee Alcohol and Drug Prevention Outcomes Longitudinal Evaluation Project (TADPOLE). Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Tennessee Department of Health, 1991-Present.

Williams, Charles (PI). Tennessee HIV/STD Prevention Evaluation. HIV/STD Division, Tennessee Department of Health, 2001-Present.

Williams, Charles (PI). Office of Minority Health- Tennessee Alcohol and Drug Prevention Outcomes Longitudinal Evaluation Project (TADPOLE). Office of Minority Health, Tennessee Department of Health, 1998-Present.

Williams, Charles (PI). Community-Based Tennessee Alcohol and Drug Prevention Outcomes Longitudinal Evaluation Project (TADPOLE). Various state and local community-based agencies, 1994-Present.

Williams, Charles (PI). Alcohol and Drug Prevention Research Center (ADPRC), Departmentof Anthropology, The University of Memphis, 2003-Present.

Williams, Charles (PI). Tennessee Outcomes for Alcohol and Drug Services (TOADS). Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Tennessee Department of Health, 1988-2000.

Williams, Charles (PI). Governor’s Preventive Initiative (GPI). Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Tennessee Department of Health, 1998-2000.

Williams, Charles (PI). Ethanol Alcohol Metabolism Research with Indiana State University and University of Tennessee, Memphis. National Institute of Health, 1990-1995.

Awards

Igniting Excitement for Academic Excellence Award from the Black Scholars Unlimited, The University of Memphis, 2006

The Summit Award, Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Tennessee Department of Health, 2005

Alma Bucovaz Award for Urban Services, University College, The University of Memphis, 2003

University of Tennessee McNair Scholars Faculty, the University of Tennessee, 2000  

Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Certificate of Appreciation, 2000

The A.W. Willis, Jr. Award, Memphis Landmarks Commission Preservation Award, 1998       

Certificate of Appreciation, Douglas, Bungalow, and Crump Communities, 1997

The Martin Luther King Human Rights Award, The University of Memphis Human Rights Committee, 1997      

Leadership Positions

Steering Committee, Meharry Medical College-Community Health Centers-Community Networks Program (MMC-CHC-CNP) Initiative, National Cancer Institute and Center for Research in Cancer Health Disparities, 2006-

Faculty Affiliate, Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change, The University of Memphis, 2004-Present

Coalition Member, Metropolitan Urban Demonstration Project, LeMoyne-Owen College, 2004-Present

Tennessee Black Health Care Commission, Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators, 2002-Present

Community Coalition Advisory Committee, Tennessee Department of Health, 2002-Present

Director, Tennessee Alcohol and Drug Prevention Outcomes Longitudinal Evaluation (TADPOLE) Project, 1992-Present

President Nelson Mandela Welcoming Ceremony Committee, 2001

State Chairperson (TN), National Association of African American Studies, 1999-2001

Director/Founder, African and African American Studies Program, The University of Memphis, 1997-2001

Director/Founder, Tennessee Outcomes for Alcohol and Drug Services (TOADS), 1988-2000

Courses Taught at The University of Memphis