An attorney, former nonprofit executive, and actor/playwright/producer who believes in the power of the humanities to connect, convince, challenge, and change, Paxton Williams served Chair of the Federation Board of Directors from November 2021-November 2023. From 2005-2009, Williams was the executive director of the George Washington Carver Birthplace Association and has continued to support and share Carver’s legacy by serving as associate producer for the Iowa PBS documentary on Carver; serving as a content expert on the National Geographic Reader series book on Carver; and by speaking to media such as National Public Radio and the Royal Horticultural Society’s podcast. Additionally, Williams co-authored a chapter on U.S. electoral politics for a book published by the Federal Institute for Access to Public Information in Mexico City. He was elected to the Federation Board in 2018.
