The Executive Director Search Committee and the PATHWAYS Board proudly announce their new Executive Director, Rev. Sonja B. Williams, PhD. Dr. Williams will begin her role on October 12, 2026.

Rev. Sonja B. Williams, PhD, is a practical theologian, theological educator, ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, and executive leader whose work centers theological education, leadership, community transformation, and the formation of people called to serve in a changing world.

Williams has held senior academic leadership as a Dean and Chief Academic Officer, with responsibility for academic administration, curriculum, faculty development, enrollment, institutional strategy, and the preparation of leaders for ministry and public life. Her broader vocational experience spans theological education, professional chaplaincy, organizational leadership, curriculum design, and interdisciplinary engagement with grief, justice, identity, culture, and human flourishing.

She comes to the Executive Director role with an established relationship with PATHWAYS as an educator and instructor, including her work with Project Proclaim. Her scholarship and teaching are grounded in practical theology and shaped by Black and womanist traditions, liberationist thought, queer theology, and sustained attention to the lived experiences of communities often underserved by traditional models of theological education.

Williams is committed to theological education that is rigorous, accessible, imaginative, and responsive to the changing landscape of ministry. As Executive Director, she brings both deep respect for the legacy PATHWAYS has built and a vision for strengthening its institutional foundation, expanding partnerships, cultivating sustainable growth, and increasing opportunities for emerging ministers, lay leaders, congregations, and communities seeking meaningful pathways into theological learning and faithful leadership.