Sha Lai Williams

Sha Lai Williams is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She holds a Ph.D. from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis (2013), an M.S.W. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a B.S.W. from North Carolina State University. Her research focuses on cultural competence in social work, racial/ethnic disparities in mental health access for African Americans and emerging adults, and mental health messaging strategies.

With over twelve years of clinical experience in residential care and non-profit settings, Dr. Williams has provided direct clinical services and supervised licensed social workers. She teaches social work practice and human behavior courses, integrating nationally recognized training curricula and expertise from teaching at the Brown School.

Her research portfolio examines themes such as Andersen Behavioral Model applications in college mental health, religious influences on addiction among African American women, and neurodevelopmental impacts of anesthetic exposure. Outputs span peer-reviewed journals in social work, public health, and neuroscience.

Dr. Williams' work bridges clinical practice, education, and policy, emphasizing culturally responsive interventions to address systemic inequities in mental healthcare access. Her interdisciplinary approach combines quantitative and qualitative methods across diverse populations.