Ishan C. Williams

Dr. Ishan C. Williams is a tenured Professor at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Nursing, specializing in gerontology with a focus on equity-driven research for older adults with dementia and their care partners. Her work addresses health disparities in minority and under-resourced populations, emphasizing culturally appropriate interventions, AI ethics in healthcare, and community engagement.

Education: Earned a B.A. in Psychology from UNC Chapel Hill, followed by an M.S. and Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from UNC Greensboro. Completed a postdoctoral fellowship at UNC Chapel Hill’s Institute on Aging.

Research Interests:

• Culturally relevant interventions for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
• Ethical use of AI in medical decision-making
• Health equity among rural and minority populations
• Social determinants of health

Awards: Recipient of the Southern Gerontological Society’s GRITS Award, 2023 Shannon Mid-Career Fellowship, and the UVA Nursing Faculty Leadership Award. Serves on Virginia’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Research Commission.

Grants & Advising: Collaborates on NIH-funded projects and leads initiatives like the Senior Companion Program Plus. Advises on policy through roles in the Gerontological Society of America and the National Hartford Centers for Gerontological Excellence.

Labs/Teams: Co-leads interdisciplinary teams focused on dementia care, AI ethics, and health equity in aging populations.