Alumni Spotlight

Dorothy graduated from the School of Nursing at Tuskegee Institute in May of 1953. Dr. Lillian Harvey (for whom the former Nurses Home Dormitory is named) was her dean. In August 1953, she began her career as Assistant Operating Room Supervisor at John A. Andrew Hospital on the Tuskegee campus.  She later moved to Detroit, Michigan and graduated from Grace Anesthesia School and became Assistant Anesthesia Department Supervisor at Outer Drive Hospital in Ecorse, Michigan.

In 1960, Dorothy became the first African American to be hired in the Anesthesia Department by the Kaiser Permanente Medical System in San Francisco. During her medical career she introduced several methods of administering anesthesia that are still being practiced. She retired from the Oakland Kaiser Permanente Medical System after 30 years of what she describes as “wonderfully challenging experiences.”

Dorothy became active with the Bay Area Tuskegee Alumni Club (BATAC) in 1964.  She was elected to her first regional office in1966 under Regional Director, John Drake.    For more than 40 years, she has continuously held various offices with the Alumni Association, including positions as Regional Corresponding Secretary, Regional Recording Secretary, Regional Financial Secretary, Regional Treasurer, and currently, Regional Chaplain.

Locally, Dorothy served for 10 years as President of BATAC between 1972 and 1990, sometimes singlehandedly keeping the Club going. Her major accomplishments include:

Dorothy’s husband of 57 years, Mr. W. A. Williams, received the first diploma granted by Mississippi Valley State University.  Dorothy and William have been friends since high school and he has been a great support to Dorothy, both professionally and with Tuskegee affairs.  Dorothy says her proudest accomplishment “is to have two professional “God fearing” children”.  Their daughter, Attorney Gayle N. Williams, is an alumna of Tuskegee and the mother of Dorothy’s two amazing grandchildren.  Their son, Dr. Kevin T. Williams, is a dentist and a Morehouse Man.

Dorothy is a member of many social, religious and community organizations, including being an NAACP Life Member, a member of Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority, Gamma Phi Delta (Business Women’s) Sorority and a Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta.  She has been a member of St. Peter C. M. E. Church for the past 48 years.

Thank you Dorothy for your service to Mother Tuskegee and your service to humanity.  Your accomplishments demonstrate the excellent preparation Tuskegee provides its students.  BATAC honors you and the Board hereby declares Saturday, July 29, 2017, DOROTHY WILLIAMS DAY!!