Diane Williams

Dr. Diane D. Williams is an Adjunct Faculty member and Fellow at the China Center for Social Policy, where she advances research and teaching at the intersection of social work and international policy. She earned her PhD in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago with a merit scholarship, completing a dissertation on productive aging in older adult populations. Her research examines how social integration, social support, and experiences of discrimination influence planned retirement age and broader life course outcomes. A central emphasis of her work is on immigrant populations, where she investigates how cultural, structural, and policy contexts shape the experiences of aging, adaptation, and retirement within diverse communities.

Dr. Williams’ academic training bridges disciplines and geographies: she holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and a Master of Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work. This dual foundation equips her to approach social welfare challenges from both a data-driven and practice-oriented perspective, with applications in comparative and international contexts.

Her applied policy work includes contributions to the AARP Disrupt Disparities Illinois Report, which addressed racial disparities among older adults in areas such as economic security, health equity, and digital connectivity. Her research incorporates international dimensions of aging, immigrant populations, and social protection, demonstrating her commitment to linking evidence from local contexts to global policy conversations.

In addition to her academic and research roles, Dr. Williams serves as a Delegate for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Illinois Chapter, engaging in legislative advocacy and professional policy dialogue. Through her teaching, scholarship, and leadership, she is committed to advancing international social work education and driving innovations in aging policy that promote inclusion, resilience, and dignity across diverse populations and the life course.