Celia Williamson

She is a Distinguished Professor of Social Work and serves as the Executive Director of the Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute at the University of Toledo. She is also the Co-Chair of the oldest and largest academic conference on human trafficking in the world. This conference annually hosts thousands of attendees from 47 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Additionally, she serves as the managing editor of the peer-reviewed Journal of Human Trafficking and is President of the Global Association of Human Trafficking Scholars. Dr. Williamson has been named the 26th most influential social worker alive today. She has consistently received funding for her research from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Justice, the State of Ohio, and several national and local foundations.

Dr. Williamson has published numerous books and articles and remains a sought-after presenter and active advocate against human trafficking. Her additional accomplishments include being a founding member of the State of Ohio’s Human Trafficking Commission under the Ohio Attorney General and chairing the Research and Analysis Committee for several years. She is a dear Soul Sister who tirelessly transforms advocacy into action.