[New] A ‘larger than life person’: Remembering Professor Ruth Williams

Blake Managing Editor

Ruth Williams, former professor in the School of Education and Psychology (SEP) at Southern Adventist University, passed away on Dec. 6, according to an email sent to faculty from the President’s Office on Dec. 9. The email stated that Williams passed following a courageous battle with cancer and described her as a legendary teacher, friend and mentor who developed strong relationships with many people on campus.

Williams worked at Southern for 26.5 years and retired last May, according to Astrid Conibear, SEP’s office manager. The email from the President's Office explained that, for many years, Williams was the director of Southern’s psychology program, and, at some point, taught every course in its curricula.

“She challenged her students in ways that fostered incredible growth while she formed lifelong relationships with them,” the email stated, “as evidenced by the plethora of tributes we are seeing and hearing both on campus and on social media.”

Colleagues’ Tributes

Four written tributes were included in the email. Two, written by Tron Wilder, psychology professor, and Conibear, described Williams’ substantial impact on Southern’s psychology program and campus.

“She's been a wonderful leader in our program and account of how she was allegedly sexually assaulted by a theology major in the Testing Room located on the third floor of Bietz Center for Student Life. Though the individual who submitted the post, and others who commented, identified the alleged perpetrator by name, the Accent is not publishing the identity since the information could not be verified. Attempts to interview individuals who posted the allegations were unsuccessful.

However, as a result of the Insta- gram account’s influence, at least one case is in the process of being filed with the Southern Title IX office, according to Title IX Deputy and First Year Experience Coordinator Renita Moore. Moore provided no details about that complaint.

In an interview with the Accent, the person managing sau_confession said he recently took over the account and began posting the messages on behalf of the people who submitted them. The individual said the previous manager of the account had been censoring such posts before he took over, and he (the individual now running the account) has received threats of potential lawsuits, bodily harm and even death as a result of his decision to post the allegations. He said he recently transferred schools, due in part to the backlash, and wishes to remain anonymous for his own safety.

“I just wanted people to be aware an extremely supportive colleague,” Wilder said. “ … Ruth has been a trailblazer here at Southern; she has been Southern's longest-serving Black professor and is leaving her mark having crafted a strong psychology program based on science from a biblical foundation.”

Conibear, whose tribute was made at Williams’ retirement, said the former professor’s primary passion was God and service to Him.

“She has had her faith tested in many storms, but her life is built on the Rock,” Conibear said. “ … She’s a gifted wordsmith and uses her gift to speak out forcefully to right wrongs, share ideas, and to persuade. … She loves the study of the

Alumni Tributes

A tribute from Ann Lee, alum, detailed how Williams was skilled at teaching and made students feel seen and heard.

“She instilled resilience in