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As Director of the College Savings Initiative at the New America Foundation, Ms. Williams developed and promoted progressive policy enhancements to 529 college savings plans in order to facilitate participation by low to moderate income families and thereby support greater access to higher education.

Prior to joining New America, Ms. Williams served ten years as executive director of the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority (OTTA) the state agency which sponsors Ohio's 529 college savings programs. During her tenure, she served two terms as chair of the College Savings Plans Network (CSPN) an affiliate of the National Association of State Treasurers. As chair and a member of CSPN's executive committee, Ms. Williams was responsible for leading the organization's state and national legislative, regulatory, and communications strategies.

Williams has testified before the House Committee on Financial Services and the United States Senate Committee on Finance. She has been quoted extensively in publications such as Investment News, the Wall Street Journal, Money, Smart Money, the Baltimore Sun and USA Today.

Prior to joining OTTA, Ms. Williams served as director of consumer services for the Office of the Ohio Consumers Counsel, a residential utility advocacy organization representing the interests of 4.5 million households before state and federal regulators and the courts.

She worked for a number of years for AT&T where she held positions in international marketing, communications, and public relations.

Ms. Williams holds M.S. and B.A. degrees from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She has completed executive education at the Aspen Institute and at the Thomas C. Page Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.