Wendy Williams

Wendy M. Williams is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Cornell University, specializing in cognition, development, and societal implications of intelligence. She founded and directs the NIH-funded Cornell Institute for Women in Science (CIWS) and leads the NSF-funded 'Thinking Like A Scientist' program. Her research bridges basic and applied psychology, focusing on cognitive development, gender disparities in STEM, and practical intelligence training.

Education:

• Ph.D. 1991, Psychology, Yale University
• M.Phil. 1986, Physical Anthropology, Yale University
• M.S. 1985, Psychology, Yale University
• B.A. 1982, English & Biology, Columbia University (cum laude with distinction)

Research Interests: Williams studies cognitive development, gender barriers in academic careers, and interventions to increase STEM participation among underrepresented groups. Her work emphasizes empirical approaches to address systemic issues, such as her national hiring experiments revealing gender preferences in faculty recruitment.

Awards & Recognition:

• Fellow of APA and multiple divisions of the American Psychological Association
• 1997 Robert L. Fantz Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology
• 2007 Independent Publisher Book Award for *Why Aren’t More Women in Science?*

Grants & Leadership: Directed NIH- and NSF-funded initiatives, including CIWS and the Harvard-Yale Practical Intelligence Project. Served on editorial boards of *Psychological Science* and multiple journals.

Labs & Teams: Leads CIWS and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on gender equity and STEM accessibility initiatives.