Lee Ann Rawlins Williams

Lee Ann Rawlins Williams, PhD, CRC, CFLE, HS-BCP is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Education, Health and Behavior Studies Department at the University of North Dakota, where she serves as Program Director of the Undergraduate Rehabilitation and Human Services Program. She holds multiple certifications including Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE), and Human Services Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP).

Dr. Williams' research focuses on the intersection of disability, rehabilitation, and disaster preparedness, with particular emphasis on how loss impacts mental and emotional health following natural disasters. Her work extends to understanding the systemic effects of disasters on educators, aging populations, and individuals with disabilities, advocating for inclusive recovery planning and accessible services across educational, health, and rehabilitation settings.

Her recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward examining the long-term mental health consequences of disasters, with a special focus on vulnerable populations. She has contributed significantly to understanding how disasters affect educational systems, with particular attention to emotional rehabilitation before academic recovery can begin. Her work bridges rehabilitation counseling, mental health services, and disaster response systems.

• Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award Recipient-UND College of Education and Human Development (2025)
• Building Inclusive Campus and Culture (Special Issue)-UND Today Article (2024)
• Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award Nomination-University of North Dakota (2024)
• UND, President Armacost Message (2023)

Dr. Williams serves on graduate thesis and dissertation committees focusing on disability and rehabilitation research areas. Her leadership extends to local, state, regional, national, and international levels through professional rehabilitation associations. She actively incorporates undergraduate and graduate students into her research on disability and rehabilitation topics, fostering the next generation of professionals in these fields.

She is actively involved with multiple professional organizations including the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP), National Rehabilitation Counseling Association (NRCA), National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), and American Psychological Association (APA), contributing to the broader rehabilitation and mental health communities.