Keith L. Williams

Keith L. Williams serves as Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Psychology at Oakland University, with his office located in Pryale Hall, Room 224. His research program bridges behavioral and biological mechanisms of addiction, utilizing sophisticated animal models to investigate substance use disorders.

Dr. Williams' educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Biopsychology from the University of Michigan (1998)
• B.A. in Psychology from New Mexico State University (1994)

His primary research focuses on alcoholism and drug addiction, specifically examining pharmacological and behavioral mechanisms of drug reinforcement, craving, and self-administration. Key investigation areas include hormonal influences on drug consumption, drug discriminative stimulus properties, and the contribution of food intake mechanisms to substance use. His work consistently integrates behavioral paradigms with neuropharmacological approaches to understand addiction etiology.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a concentrated research trajectory on ethanol-related behaviors in rodent and primate models. His work demonstrates particular expertise in opioid antagonists (especially naltrexone) and GABA-B agonists (baclofen) for modulating alcohol consumption. Recurring methodological themes include self-administration paradigms, conditioned place aversion, extinction training, and stress-induced relapse models. The publications span high-impact journals in psychopharmacology and behavioral neuroscience, with consistent focus on translational applications for addiction treatment.

As Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Williams oversees curriculum development and academic advising for psychology majors. His administrative role complements his research program, which has maintained continuous productivity for over two decades through strategic use of animal models to investigate fundamental mechanisms of addiction. The department's Center for Evolutionary Psychological Science provides institutional context for his biopsychological research approach.