Sociology PhD candidate awarded Leadership Fellowship

January 28, 2026

Tiffany M. Williams, a PhD student in the Departments of Sociology and Environmental Science and Policy. Is among the incoming cohort of the Leadership Fellows Program operated by the MSU Graduate School. 

Leadership Fellows Program is a year-long, cohort-based experience created to build a stronger and healthier graduate student community at MSU.  

“We support, encourage, and provide resources for graduate and professional student leaders to engage in change-oriented work within their disciplines, college, the institution more broadly, and the world,” the program reads. 

Tiffany’s research interests are intersectional, mostly falling under the umbrella of environmental sociology, including environmental racism, environmental justice, climate change communication, environmental communication, and religion and environment. Her interests also include trust in governance and trust in science communication.  

She holds an M.S. in Environment and Natural Resources, a B.S. in Environmental Policy and Management, and a B.A. in Strategic Communication from The Ohio State University. Her Master’s thesis analyzed the intersection of race, religion and environmental concern among Black and white Americans. 

Over the next year, Tiffany and her cohort are provided with  with a peer-network, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. An explicit goal of this program each year is to develop a diverse cohort that reaches across the colleges. 

As the main effort of the Leadership Fellowship, each fellow will develop and exercise leadership skills by creating a change-oriented project aimed at enhancing graduate student well-being.