By Nancy Fowler
In the decade since Terri Williams, ’08, received her bachelor’s from Maryville in organizational leadership, she has racked up a lifetime’s worth of achievements. She’s earned a barber’s license, started a barber and beauty business, worked on a documentary film about the 1917 East St. Louis race massacres, obtained an M.A. in American cultural studies from Washington University in St. Louis and studied music theory — all while raising twin daughters.
Williams’ leadership skills began to blossom when she first came to the Maryville campus. As one of a handful of African American students, she cofounded the Association of Black Collegians. The group provides leadership opportunities for black students and strives to educate the larger campus community on black issues and culture.
“It was an important gathering space for black students, and being able to share with our peers who were not black was a cool experience,” Williams said. “I learned a lot about strategy, networking and building relationships.”
That relationship-building came in handy during her junior year. Williams felt comfortable confiding in Maryville’s vice president for student success that she was $2,000 short of making her next tuition payment. “I said, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be here next year,’” Williams remembered. “And she said, ‘Hold on, let’s call financial aid and see if there’s any other scholarship money available.’” Within a day, she called Williams back with news that she’d found the money. “It taught me to always ask questions, that no question is too stupid except the one you don’t ask,” Williams said.
Williams now works as a development manager for Unleashing Potential, an organization providing early education and after-school programs and enrichment camps, while running Total Image Barber and Beauty in University City, Missouri, the family-friendly barbershop she opened with her husband.
For Williams, Maryville is a family affair in more ways than one. When Williams was a high school senior, her mother, Debra Drake, ’04, earned her master’s in art education from Maryville. Four years later, Williams was pregnant with her twin girls when she graduated. Now, Williams frequently brings her 10-year-old daughters to Maryville for campus visits. One of them is interested in following in her footsteps. “She was like, ‘I want go here, Mom, because you were here,’” Williams said.