Background

Dr. Williams received her PhD in Nursing from Georgia Regents University, a MSN as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Georgia Southern University and a BSN from the Medical College of Georgia.

Teaching

 Dr. Williams has taught in both classroom and clinical settings across the full spectrum of nursing education, including undergraduate, master's, doctorate in nursing practice and PhD programs. In addition, she has developed multiple career and research development programs to prepare the next generation of academic leaders and researchers. 

Research

Dr. Williams leads innovative, community-engaged research that addresses pressing public health challenges, including diabetes prevention, cardiovascular risk reduction, and cancer prevention and control. Central to her work is a commitment to advancing health equity, particularly through partnerships with Community Health Workers and faith-based settings. Her recent NIDDK-funded faith-based trial moves beyond the “one-size-fits-all” model of behavioral interventions by identifying weight-loss non-responders early and delivering tailored, enhanced support to improve outcomes.

Dissemination

 Dr. Williams has published approximately 50 peer reviewed manuscripts, a book and book chapters, and has presented posters and invited podium presentations at national and international conferences. 

Professional Service

• Society of Behavioral Medicine
• Obesity Society
• Academy of Nursing
• Southern Nursing Research Society
• National Black Nurses Association Lifetime Member
• Sigma Theta Tau

Professional Practice

Dr. Williams has more than 30 years of nursing experience spanning a wide range of clinical settings. She began her career in cardiac critical care before earning a master's degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Since then, she has dedicated her practice to caring for vulnerable and underserved populations in settings such as Veterans Affairs Medical Center, indigent care clinics, and mental health hospitals. In these settings, she has provided comprehensive primary care and tobacco cessation treatment, addressing the complex health needs of patients facing significant social and medical challenges.

Research Studies (selected)

•  National Center for Advancing Translational Science Supplement: Exploration of Barriers and Facilitators to Weight Maintenance Among Adults with Overweight/Obesity
• National Institute of Minority Health Disparities P50: Achieving Success in Community-engaged research to Eliminate Disparities (ASCEND)
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestion and Kidney  Disease R01 Enhancing the Diabetes Prevention Program to Promote Weight Loss Among Non-responders in a Community based intervention
• National Cancer Institute Supplement: Using a community health worker model to reach disparate populations in western KY for lung cancer screening (K-CARE)

Publications (selected)

*Karle, E., Cozart, D. , Abu Farsakh, B. , *Afolayan, V., Ebikwo, T., *Brooks, M., Williams, L. B. (2025). Challenges and Lessons Learned While Conducting a Diabetes Prevention Program Among Black Churches During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Health Promotion Practice. 

Yeary, K. K., Allen, J., Arredondo, E., Atemnkeng, J., Buzcu-Guven, B., Day, K., Dicarlo, E., Formagini, T., Kwon, S., McElfish, P., McNeill, L. H., Newton, R. L., Park, C. L.,  Wilcox, S., Williams, L. B., Yusuf, Y., Zoellner, J. (2025) Cancer Interventions with Faith-Based Organizations: A Scoping Review”. Cancer Causes and Control. 

Williams, L. B., *Abu Farsakh, B., Karle, E., *Almogheer, Z., S.  Coughlin, S. , Yeary, K. (2024). How Effective are Church-based Weight loss Interventions among Black Adults: A Systematic Review. J. Obes. DOI.org/10.1002/oby.241151

Williams, L.B., Moser, D.K., Gustafson, A., Waters T. M., Rayens, M. K., Karle, E., Kriska, A. M. (2022). Reaching High-Risk Black Adults for Diabetes Prevention Programming During a Pandemic: The Design of Fit & Faithful a Randomized Controlled Community Trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2022.106973 

Williams, L.B., Shelton, B. J., Gomez, M.L., *Al-Mrayat, Y.D., Mullet, T. Studts, J. L. (2020). Using Implementation Science to Disseminate a Lung Cancer Screening Education Intervention through Community Health Workers. Journal of Community Health 46(1):165-173. doi: 10.1007/s10900-020-00864-2. 1,2