Executive Team
Brenda Ernest
LMSW, MAC
Project Director
Project Director
Tanisha Character
Creative Marketing Consultant Peer Workforce Development Coordinator
Growing up in California, Doreen Williams’ mother was a stay-at-home mom who insisted each child take some form of music lesson and develop attributes of lifelong learning. Her father was an educator who worked with children of migrant farm workers.
After graduating from high school, Dr. Williams earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and a minor in Psychology from Brigham Young University. After her five children were grown, Dr. Williams continued her education earning a Masters of Science in Education degree from Walden University followed by a Doctor of Education degree from Georgia Southern University. After a 30 year career in education she retired in 2012.
In 2014 Williams campaigned for and won the Rockdale County Commission, Post 2 seat and in 2018 she was re-elected to a second term. In that capacity Commissioner Williams spearheaded a long-range strategic planning process, greater access to the arts in Rockdale County, and two initiatives related to mental illness. One, to educate and bring awareness of the effects of mental health issues in the community and Two, to reduce the number of inmates in the Rockdale County Jail who have a diagnosed mental illness and facilitate their getting treatment and other services instead of incarceration. In this effort she has championed the Stepping Up Initiative, a national initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jail.
Association memberships and volunteer activities: (National, state, and local level)
She and her husband John have lived in Rockdale County for 27 years. They are the parents of five children and grandparents of twelve grandchildren. One thing she has learned over the years is that accomplishing goals sometimes takes much longer than she ever thought. Patience and persistence are not to be underestimated.