Horizons Fall 2015

F or perpetual optimist Randall K. Williams, (M.P.A., 2014), the glass is not only half-full—people all around you will be able to fill up the other half. “They might not even know it yet. You just have to be open to it,” said Williams, who was awarded the Alumni of the Year 2015—Jacksonville Campus during the 2015 Student Life Achievement (STUEY) Awards. Williams knows about being open to opportunity. Not only is he currently an auditor for the Department of Defense— “protecting the taxpayers’ money,” he said—Williams, 28, completed a stint as a White House intern in the Office of Presidential Correspondence, where he met Michelle Obama, introduced the First Lady during a private event, and worked on the Affordable Care Act. The time Williams spent on the NSU Jacksonville Campus and the relationships he made there were pivotal, he said, and helped him see how to reach his personal and profes- sional goals. One of three children of a single mother, the Jacksonville native was the first in his family to attend college. After graduating from the University of Central Florida in account- ing, Williams quickly started online M.B.A. courses. But, he discovered, something wasn’t quite right. “I was going for a degree to get a good-paying job, but it wasn’t something I felt connected to, what I was passionate about,” he said. Then a friend discussed graduate online courses in public administration through NSU’s Jackson- ville Campus. For Williams, the possibilities of a public administration degree clicked. He had just moved home and would be able to take the online classes he needed while he worked a full- time job. He also became actively involved in campus life, something he realized was crucial to him. “That was a big deal. I could pursue my degree and I could get involved on campus,” he said. “I realized I was heavily involved in undergrad activities. My heart and my passion are using my talents and skills to get people to where they need to be. Taking money out of it, I thought, ‘what would I be doing?’ I would be pursing community and public service.” It would also be a practical degree, and it would allow him to use his accounting skills. Meeting with NSU Jacksonville student affairs adviser Cathy O’Brien, M.S., helped seal the deal. “Cathy O’Brien is a big ball of energy, and she is really welcoming. She pushes students to get involved and she helps create a family atmosphere,”Williams said. While his classes were online, Williams created a com- munity of students in northeast Florida, setting up study ses- sions andmeetings. “The human interaction was really important. I feel the amount of support was a big thing,” he said. Elected to campus student government as a senator, Williams eventually became president. He also helped create programs to get older, returning students up to speed on classroom technology, which was sometimes a stumbling block. “We realized it was really intimidating,” he said. “Students were missing a day or two trying to figure out this whole system.” His time in student government strengthened his interest in Road Led to White House Internship BY JODI NODING (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy) First Lady Michelle Obama greets intern Randall K. Williams before delivering remarks to the White House fall interns on December 5, 2014. 10 NSU HORIZONS