Alex Williams

Alex Williams (he/him) is a Lecturer in the Department of Liberal Arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and teaches sociology at Roosevelt University. He holds a Bachelors in Audio Arts from Columbia College and a Masters in Sociology from Roosevelt University.

• Primary affiliation: School of the Art Institute of Chicago
• Secondary affiliation: Roosevelt University

Research & Teaching Focus:

• Environmental justice, global and regional inequalities
• Intersections of public health, race, gender, and class
• Urban ecology and human/non-human nature relationships
• Colonial and capitalist power structures in environmental movements

External Engagements:

• Clinical and community herbalist
• Co-founder of First Curve Apothecary and Greenspell Organization
• Focus on chronic health conditions and mental health through herbalism

Course Overview:

• Environmental Justice (Liberal Arts 3300): Explores theoretical and historical perspectives on environmental inequities, with local case studies from Southeast Chicago and Little Village.
• Readings include works by Rachel Stein, Anna Tsing, Robert Brulle, Kyle Whyte, and policy papers from the National Resource Defense Council.
• Course meets at Homan Square 5–6 times per term.