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. His research focuses primarily on the social ecology of substance abuse prevention with specific emphasis on alcohol and energy drink risks and advocacy for tobacco-free initiatives. His research also explores other adolescent health risks including physical and sexual violence victimization. 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, and the Missouri Foundation for Health. Dr. Williams’ research has been featured in leading drug 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, the Journal of Community Health, the American Journal of Health Promotion, and Health Promotion Practice. As a Certified Health Education Specialist®, 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, grant writing, community health

Research Interests

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

Selected Scholarly/Creative Work

  • Levy, T. M., Williams, R. D., Odum, M., Housman, J. M., & McDonald, J. D. (2022). Impact of COVID-19 stress on food insecurity and fruit and vegetable consumption among college students. Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/doi: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2098033
  • Williams, R. D., & Gutierrez, A. (2022). Increased likelihood of forced sexual intercourse, sexual violence, and sexual dating violence victimization among sexual minority youth. Journal of Community Health, 47(2), 193–200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-021-01033-9
  • Kim, J., Kim, J., Williams, R. D., & Han, A. (2021). The association of social support and leisure time physical activity with mental health among individuals with cancer. American Journal of Health Promotion, 35(3), 362–368. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/0890117120961321
  • Khankhkam, A., Williams, R. D., Housman, J. M., & Odum, M. (2020). Sexual dating violence, school-based violence, and risky behaviors among U.S. high school students. Journal of Community Health, 45, 932–942. https://doi.org/doi: 10.1007/s10900-020-00811-1
  • Williams, R. D., Housman, J. M., & McDonald, J. D. (2020). If we build it, will they come? Challenges of adapting and implementing a smoking cessation program for the LGBTQ community in Southcentral Texas. Health Promotion Practice, 118S-123S. https://doi.org/DOI: 10.1177/1524839919882385

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
COE College Council
2022-Present
Reviewer / Referee
Substance Use and Misuse
2019-Present
Editorial Review Board Member
The Health Educator
April 2018-Present
Faculty Sponsor
Eta Sigma Gamma
August 1, 2013-Present
Editorial Review Board Member
Journal of Drug Education
January 1, 2011-Present