Alabama A&M University alumna Jamya Williams, afirst-year science teacher at Bob Jones High School,has been awarded a $10,000grant through the UnitedNegro College Fund (UNCF)Teacher EmpowermentFund, supported in partby the Maxwell/HanrahanFoundation, a national initiative designed to support and mentor early-career educators from historicallyBlack colleges and universities.
Williams, who graduated from Alabama A&M University in December 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in biology with a concentration in secondary education, was selected for the highly competitive program after being recommended by AlabamaA&M faculty members Dr.Samantha L. Strachan, associate dean for student success and associate professor of science education, and Dr. Lena Walton, associate professor of elementary education and program coordinator for the doctoral program in curriculum and instruction.
The Montgomery, Alabama, native said she recently learned of her selection through email. The program selects approximately 70 educators from hundreds of applicants representing HBCUs nation-wide.“
This grant means legacy for not only my lovely HBCU, but my daughter, family, and former and future African American students through-out my teaching career,” Williams said.
The nine-month mentor-ship program runs from April through December and provides recipients with financial support, profes-sional mentoring and net-working opportunities witheducation leaders acrossthe country.
Williams began teachingenvironmental science andbiology at Bob Jones HighSchool just days after grad-uating from Alabama A&MUniversity and recently accepted the head coachingposition for the school’sbasketball cheer squad.
First-year-science-teacher-Jamya Williams with some of her students at BobJones High School“
The grant money will benefit me as a first-year teacher because I won’t lack resources or classroom needs, and it will also help me network with higher-up educators throughout this mentoring program,” she said.
Williams said AlabamaA&M University played a major role in shaping her personal and professional growth.“
I chose AAMU becauseI wanted to be somewhere that felt like home while accomplishing one of my biggest goals,” she said. “I also continued a legacy as my to siblings and I all graduated from AAMU.”Williams describes her time on The Hill as transformative