Graig Williams

PROFILE: Graig Williams is a born leader. Spending time with teenagers, helping them find their way, and leading by example is what the New Orleans native does best. He attended Tuskegee University - a college known for producing its share of leaders over the years, including Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James and Tom Joyner, host of the nationally syndicated The Tom Joyner Morning Show. Fortune 100 member Raytheon Company recognized Graig’s leadership abilities after he graduated with honors with an engineering degree. In four years, Graig has begun working his way up the corporate ladder, accepting more responsibility with each new promotion. Graig intends to return to school in fall 2011 to pursue an M.S./Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology, to fuel a future career as a corporate executive and later as a university administrator. 

INSPIRATION: Graig is motivated by a sense of service to others and has found inspiration from fellow Jack Kent Cooke Scholars. “I have continued to be inspired through the sense of community steadily being built amongst the Scholars,” he said. He credits Dr. Calvin Mackie, a fellow alumnus of New Orleans’ McDonogh #35 Senior High School, with making a positive impression. Dr. Mackie, a world-renowned motivational speaker and entrepreneur, became his college mentor. “His personal story pushed me to continue fighting at a very crucial point in my life,” Graig said.

ASPIRATION: Graig hopes to earn an M.S./Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology to align his career with his passion of developing human capital. After educating future business leaders, Graig’s long-term career goal is to become a university administrator at a historically black college or university.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Graig spends a great deal of time mentoring teenagers at his church. Though engineering and problem-solving comes naturally to him, social problems interest him more than technical issues. Through various professional experiences in college and subsequently in the business world, Graig discovered a passion to develop the promise and talent of the young people with whom he works. 

ACCOLADES: Graig is the recipient of Tuskegee’s Legand L. Burge Leadership Award, the Ronald K. Washington Leadership Award, and earned an Individual Achievement Award from Raytheon Company during his first year with the company. 

INTERESTING FACT: During summer “vacations” at Tuskegee, Graig interned at G.E. Aircraft Engines in Ohio and with Caterpillar, Inc. in Illinois.