Kendra Williams

Williams is administrator of community health and epidemiology at Springfield-Greene County Health Department, where she oversees the activities and employees in the community health and epidemiology division.

“All activities within the division include promoting healthy lifestyles, prevention and control of communicable diseases, and disease intervention activities for infected individuals and their contacts,” Williams said.

Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in biology with minors in chemistry and physical science from Pittsburg State University in Kansas, and a master’s degree in biology with an emphasis in microbiology from the school.

She began her career in public health in 1999 in Carthage at the Jasper County Health Department. She moved on to the Joplin Health Department in 2002 and joined the Springfield-Greene County Health Department in 2004. But her journey was not an easy one.

“At the age of 20, my life prospects were grim,” Williams said. “I was a high school dropout, recent divorcee, mother of an infant and worked entry-level jobs to make ends meet.”

Williams earned her GED and went to college, never looking back.

She said she would not change a thing about her career, even if she could, because “all life experiences, positive and negative, shape us into the individuals we are today.”

And she had some help. “I have been extremely fortunate to have been supported in my quest by a wonderful husband for 13 years and a daughter, now 15 years old,” Williams said “My success is a tribute to them, and those I have worked with professionally over the years.”

Born: 1970

What’s the best professional advice you’ve ever received, and who gave it to you? Always put on the appearance of being calm and confident whether you are or not. I received this from my former administrator, Daniel Pekarek of the Joplin Health Department.

What book do you currently have open? “Biohazard,” by Ken Alibek

Quote to live by: You never get a second chance to make a first impression.