Crystal Williams

Doctoral Student - Cohort 1

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Crystal is pursuing a doctorate in special education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As a doctoral student, her research interests include supportive, family-centered teams in early intervention and empowering early childhood professionals to support children with disabilities in inclusive early childhood classrooms. Crystal previously earned her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and child and family services from Southern Illinois University, and her master’s degree in early childhood special education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has worked as an infant and toddler specialist for Head Start.

Awards

Year Award Awarding Organization
2023 – Present Goldstick Family Doctoral Fellowship University of Illinois
2023 – Present National Center on Pyramid Model Innovations Fellow NCMPI
2023 Fall 2023 Research Award Department of Special Education, University of Illinois
2023 David Sexton Doctoral Student Award Division for Early Childhood
2023 University Fellowship Department of Special Education, University of Illinois
2023 Outstanding Teaching Award for Teaching Assistants College of Education, University of Illinois
2022 Fall 2022 Conference Travel Award Department of Special Education, University of Illinois
2022 Special Education Student Award Department of Special Education, University of Illinois
2021 Fall 2021 Conference Travel Award Department of Special Education, University of Illinois
2021 Fall 2021 Research Award Department of Special Education, University of Illinois
2021 CWS Multimodal Pedagogy Seminar Professional Development Award University of Illinois
2020 -2021 LEND Fellow Maternal and Child Health Bureau, University of Illinois Chicago
Picture of Crystal Williams from Cohort 1
Contact Information
EmailCsw4@illinois.edu