Robert Arthur Williams began his association with AdventHealth University in 1991 when he accepted an invitation from Dr. David Greenlaw to help develop a college for Florida Hospital. AHU, then called Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences, opened the following year. Dr. Williams served as the academic dean for the inaugural year. In 1993, he transitioned to the role of assistant to the president of the college, where he served until his retirement in 2014.
Dr. Williams was born May 31, 1925 in Grand Rapids Michigan. He received his undergraduate degree in English from Western Michigan University, a master’s degree in Speech from University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Michigan State University. He held a certificate in secondary teaching and was licensed as a Psychologist in the State of Michigan.
In 1972 Dr. Williams was hired by Andrews University to chair the Department of Education. Later he was appointed as Graduate Dean. Beginning in 1983, Dr. Williams became the President of Kettering College of Medical Arts, where he served until coming to Florida to help establish ADU.
Dr. Williams was a tireless advocate for the library that now bears his name. He visited the library often, either to look for something of interest or to just walk the stacks and see what was there. Dr. Williams also brought the library its first major acquisition, negotiating the purchase of a complete collection of general education books from a library in Minnesota.
Dr. Williams passed away in 2016, but his memory lives on at AHU. Dr. Williams was the champion for the library, its staff, and its growth among all faculty and administration. The Robert Arthur Williams Library proudly maintains his legacy.