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  5. The Mitchell College of Business Congratulates Dr. Alvin J. Williams on his Retirement

The Mitchell College of Business Congratulates Dr. Alvin J. Williams on his Retirement

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Amanda Akey
Amanda Akey

Dr. Williams standing outside on campus. data-lightbox='featured'

Williams was born in Mobile but grew up in Prentiss, Mississippi, where his parents were high school teachers. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and a master’s degree from the University of Alabama.

At the age of 21, he began teaching marketing courses at Alabama A&M University. He went on to earn a Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas before returning to Southern Mississippi, where he taught for 28 years. He joined the faculty at the University of South Alabama in 2008 as a distinguished professor of marketing.

Williams held the position of interim dean of the Mitchell College from 2021 - 2023. Williams also served as the chair of the department of Marketing, Supply Chain Management and Analytics. As a marketing professor, Williams has won Outstanding Faculty and Outstanding Teacher awards. Through his teaching he always aimed to connect academic lessons with real-world situations including leading study abroad trips for business students.

Williams has kept in touch with dozens of students that he’s taught over the years. He notes that their success is one of his rewards. “One of the most exciting things about what we do is seeing people develop,” he said. “There’s nothing more exciting than meeting a prospective student, talking to them about coming to college, and then four years later, seeing them graduate, find a job and start a career.”

Upon his retirement Williams is looking forward to spending more time with his family, serving his church, supporting the community through Scouting America and continuing to engage in marketing organizations. 

In celebration of Williams’ retirement, Mitchell College invites you to donate in his honor to the Alvin J. Williams Endowed Scholarship Fund for Study Abroad in Marketing. Your donations will help provide study abroad scholarships for full-time undergraduate marketing students. 

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