Visiting Assistant Professor
Center for Latin American Studies
Masters of Sustainable Development Practice Program
Grinter Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611-5530
E-mail: rjwillia@ufl.edu
Website: https://docrjwilliams.com/
Research Interests
Intersection of climate change, migration and violence; gender, intersectionality, and masculinities; participatory and qualitative methods; indigenous communities; development practice; critical feminism
Geographic Expertise
Central America, Guyana
Background
Dr. Rebecca J. (Becky) Williams’ is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Center for Latin American Studies and she is core faculty in both the Master of Sustainable Development Practice program and the Tropical Conservation and Development program. Her research has two primary focuses including the connections between climate change, violence, and migration; and gender and participatory development with a focus on natural resources and indigenous communities. Williams’ most recent research was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and took a socio-ecological systems approach to investigating how rural livelihoods in Honduras are being influenced by climate change, resulting in migration and illicit livelihood opportunities (such as gangs and narcotrafficking) becoming alternative opportunity pathways. The results of her research is being used to develop USAID-Honduras’ next 5-year development strategy. She is currently working on multiple articles out of her research.
Williams’ serves on many student committees (Masters and PhD) and participates in the Latin American Studies Curriculum Committee. She enjoys teaching as much as she enjoys research and she offers courses in the Fall and Spring semesters. Dr. Williams holds an M.S. from Florida State University in Instructional Systems Design and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida in Interdisciplinary Ecology with a focus on Tropical Conservation and Development.
Courses
- LAS 6291: Communication and Leadership for Development Practice
- LAS 6291: Facilitation Skills for Conservation and Development Practice
- LAS 6938: Intersectionality in Conservation and Development Research and Practice
- LAS 6938: Qualitative Data Analysis