Faculty Profile for Dr. Ron Williams Jr.

profile photo for Dr. Ron Williams Jr.
Dr. Ron Williams Jr.
Chair - Professor — Dept of Health & Human Performance
JOW A116
phone: (512) 245-2561
Scholarly/Creative Work
Awards
Grants
Service

Biography Section

Biography and Education

 Ron Williams, Jr. earned his Ph.D. in public health education and promotion from the University of Alabama and has held faculty positions at Southeast Missouri State University, Mississippi State University, and Texas State University. He is currently a Professor of Public Health and Chair of the Department of Health and Human Performance at Texas State University where he also serves as the Public Health Graduate Program Coordinator. His research focuses primarily on the social ecology of substance abuse and sexual violence prevention among adolescent and young adult populations. He has secured over $2.3 million in funding for community health and prevention research projects from organizations such as the Texas Department of State Health Services, U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Missouri Foundation for Health. Dr. Williams’ research has been featured in leading substance abuse prevention journals such as Substance Use and Misuse, the American Journal on Addictions, the Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse, and the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Other Drugs. Additionally, he has published in top public health journals including the Journal of American College Health, Journal of Community Health, American Journal of Health Promotion, and Health Promotion Practice. As a Certified Health Education Specialist® and a Certified in Public Health practitioner, Dr. Williams has expertise in program evaluation and has served as lead evaluator for numerous substance abuse prevention and treatment programs. He has also served as an evaluation consultant for the U.S. Center for Substance Use Prevention’s Service to Science Initiative.

Teaching Interests

 Public health research methods, program planning and evaluation, epidemiology, grant writing, community health

Research Interests

 Substance abuse prevention, alcohol and energy drinks, tobacco-free and smoke-free advocacy, adolescent risk behaviors, sexual violence prevention

Selected Scholarly/Creative Work

  • Williams, R. D., Bishop, J. M., & Housman, J. M. (2025). Disparities in HIV testing, STI testing, and associated risk factors in high school-aged youth: Findings from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. AIDS Care, 37(4), 546–554.
  • Berumen-Flucker, B., Esqueda, K., Ledezma, K., Barrientez, T. C., Williams, R. D., & Romero, S. (2025). Culture, acculturation, and physical activity among U.S. Hispanic/Latino adults. American Journal of Health Behavior, 49(1), 36–53.
  • Levy, T. M., Williams, R. D., Odum, M., Housman, J. M., & McDonald, J. D. (2024). Impact of COVID-19 stress on food insecurity and fruit and vegetable consumption among college students. Journal of American College Health, 72(6), 1947–1954. https://doi.org/doi: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2098033
  • Bates, K., Williams, R. D., Housman, J. M., & Odum, M. (2024). LGBTQIA+ individuals’ experiences with intimate partner violence and perceptions of victim services. Violence & Victims, 39(4), 495–511. https://doi.org/DOI:  10.1891/VV-2022-0186
  • Williams, R. D., Kitts, G., Levy, T. M., Housman, J. M., & Berumen-Flucker, B. (2024). Relationship of perceived racial discrimination and age of onset for cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use among adolescents. Health Behavior and Policy Review, 11(6), 1760–1769. Retrieved from https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/psp/hbpr/pre-prints/content-psphbpr_1161

Selected Awards

  • Award / Honor Recipient: 2021 College Achievement Award in Service, College of Education. 2021
  • Award / Honor Recipient: 2021 Presidential Distinction Award in Teaching, Texas State University. 2021
  • Award / Honor Recipient: 2019 College Achievement Award for Service, College of Education. 2019
  • Award / Honor Recipient: 2019 Presidential Distinction Award for Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Activities, Texas State University. 2019
  • Award / Honor Recipient: 2017 Jack Davis Professional Achievement Award, University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Sciences. October 2017

Selected Grants

  • Housman, Jeff M (Principal), Williams, Ronald Daniel (Principal). Tobacco Quit Line Evaluation and Outreach Assistance: Fresh Start Cessation Project, Texas Department of State Health Services & Texas A&M University Center for Community Health Development, State, $5851. (Funded: January 2017 - December 2017). Grant.
  • Housman, Jeff M (Principal), Williams, Ronald D (Co-Principal), McDonald, Jackie (Co-Principal), Evans, Jennifer (Co-Principal). Tobacco Quit Line Evaluation and Outreach Assistance: The Last Drag Tobacco Cessation Program for LGBT and HIV+ Populations Phase II, Texas Department of State Health Services & Texas A&M University Center for Community Health Development, State, $5000. (Funded: 2015 - 2016). Grant.
  • Williams, Ronald (Principal), Hunt, B. P (Co-Principal). Healthiest Hometown Project: Assessment of Health Programs, Initiatives, and Policies, Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Mississippi and the City of Starkville, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $24000. (Funded: 2012 - 2013). Grant.
  • Maginel, J. (Principal), Azuma, K. (Co-Principal), Williams, R. D (Co-Principal), Barnes, J. T (Co-Principal). Drug Free Communities Grant: Southeast Missouri Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Federal, $625000. (Funded: 2010 - 2015). Grant.
  • Barnes, J. T (Principal), Williams, Ronald D (Principal). Southeast Missouri Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Initiative, Missouri Foundation for Health, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $205604. (Funded: 2009 - 2011). Grant.

Selected Service Activities

Member
Online and Extended Programs (OXP) Steering Committee
2024-Present
Member
College Review Group (Tenure and Promotion)
2022-Present
Member
College of Education Leadership Council
2022-Present
Member
University Council of Chairs and Directors
June 2022-Present
Reviewer / Referee
Substance Use and Misuse
2019-Present