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Leadership Studies Assistant Teaching Professor, Dr. KP Williams, received the 2020 M.J. Riggs Award at the annual Memorial Union Awards Ceremony held on Wednesday, April 22, 2020. According to ISU Memorial Union, the award, created in 2009, recognizes individuals or organizations whose contributions have had an impact upon a specific area, department, unit, or goal of the Memorial Union.

Dr. Williams was nominated by Erica Swanson, the Leadership and Student Organizations Resource Coordinator for the Memorial Union. In her letter of recommendation for Williams’s nomination, Erica wrote:

Because of Dr. KP Williams and his dedication, the leadership programs put on by Student Activities and the MU have grown tremendously and been able to serve hundreds of students. The mission of the MU is to complete the college experience by developing leadership, community, and career readiness, and we are able to do just that because of KP and his contributions to leadership programs at the Union.

As a faculty member in Leadership Studies, KP goes above and beyond to take on extra projects within the Union to serve students. KP has been a huge key player in not one, not two, but three of our leadership programs. He is consistently a featured speaker for the Leaders Workshop Series facilitating interactive skill-building workshops for students, volunteers on our Iowa State Leadership Experience planning team providing expertise that’s essential to the development of this large-scale conference, and co-coordinates the Leadership ISU learning community helping students develop the capacity for practicing leadership and impacting change in our world.

KP demonstrates one of the most important qualities that a faculty member and MU campus partner can embody. He cares. He cares deeply for his work, his students, and the betterment of Iowa State University. He inspires me to take initiative, go the extra mile, and dedicate my work to helping students succeed. I am confident that without the input and efforts of KP, the leadership programs in the Union would not be as impactful or meaningful for our students as they are. I cannot think of a better person to be recognized for their above and beyond contributions to the Memorial Union than Dr. KP Williams.

Due to COVID-19, this year’s awards ceremony will be held virtually starting at 1:15 PM on Wednesday, April 22, 2020. All are welcome to attend.

We are proud of Dr. Williams and his contributions to our program, as well as his many other important leadership endeavors around campus. Congratulations, KP!