Reverend Janiece Renee Williams is a Ph.D. candidate in the Graduate Department of Religion at Vanderbilt University, specializing in Homiletics and Liturgics with a focus on African American preaching and ethics. As a distinguished Theology and Practice Fellow, a Russell G. Hamilton Scholar, and a Louisville Institute Doctoral Fellow, she is dedicated to advancing scholarship in her field. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, she was licensed to preach at Temple Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Dr. Sedric D. Veal Sr. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies from Nyack College and a Master of Divinity degree from Wake Forest University School of Divinity. 

As a practitioner-scholar, Reverend Williams is a certified Homiletic Coach through the David G. Buttrick Homiletic Peer Coaching Program at Vanderbilt University. She is also the creator of Sermon Development: A Workbook for Preachers, which rapidly became a primary resource for pastors and preachers nationwide and is now recognized as a key tool at conferences across the country.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Reverend Williams has held various congregational roles, including digital ministry and executive ministerial leadership, most recently serving as the Interim Executive Minister at Watson Grove Baptist Church in Nashville, TN, under Reverend Dr. John R. Faison Sr. She has had the privilege of preaching, lecturing, and speaking in numerous churches, universities, and conferences, including The Hampton University Minister’s Conference Late Night Service. Furthermore, in 2024 she made history as the first woman to serve on the leadership cabinet of the Pastors and Ministers Division of the National Baptist Convention USA. A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Reverend Williams is committed to service efforts that uplift underserved members of the community.