Dana A. Williams is Professor of African American literature and Dean of the Graduate School at Howard University. She served as Chair of English at Howard University for nine years, prior to becoming Dean. She is 1st Vice President of the Modern Languages Association, a former president of the College Language Association (the oldest and largest professional organization in the US for faculty of color who teach languages and literature), and president of the Toni Morrison Society. Prior to joining the faculty at Howard, she held a faculty position at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge; a Ford Foundation fellowship at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL; and a faculty fellowship at the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute at Duke University. Her book on Toni Morrison as editor will be published by Harper/Amistad in August 2024.