By Michelle Tooker ’07, ’10M

Dr. Linda Williams ’71 formed the basis of her career thanks to the guidance of Dr. Norman Johnston, Professor Emeritus of Sociology. In her career as a researcher and educator, she continues to harken back to her undergraduate experiences.

Williams conducts research on a number of tough issues, including violence against women, children, and homeless and prostituted teens. She is known for scientific research that is on the cutting edge of both topic and methodology in the field of interpersonal violence, and she always takes on the challenge of addressing important but controversial topics where little previous scientific work has been done. She often has to literally invent the methodology to do the research. She co-authored four books and numerous journal articles, and she served as a principal investigator on 14 federally funded research projects. She is a full professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Read more in Arcadia magazine.

‘Retrospective: The Man and the Field’ celebrates the work of Dr. Norman Johnston. The event takes place on Thursday, Feb. 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Grey Towers Castle.