Dr. Victoria Williams is part of the Clinical PhD Psychology Program’s core faculty. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor and the program’s Clinical Director. She teaches ethics, diversity, and CBT at the Fresno campus, and teaches the advanced ethics course for the Clinical PsyD Program's Sacramento campus. Dr. Williams is originally from Brooklyn, New York, and has wanted to teach ever since she took an AP Psychology class during high school. She received her B.A. in Psychology at Wells College in 2014 and became a daycare teacher for infants the following year before beginning her journey in Fresno, California.
Dr. Williams received her Master’s in 2017 and a Doctorate of Philosophy in 2020 at the California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno campus. Her dissertation is titled, “Catfishing and Online Identity Management,” where she explored the relationships among online identity deception, Machiavellianism, adulthood attachment, and self-esteem. She has also collaborated with her colleagues on research regarding food insecurity in the community college population, and “sexting” in long-term relationships. She is currently writing a manuscript with a student, replicating her dissertation on catfishing.
Additionally, Dr. Williams has had clinical training at sites including a group private practice, a juvenile detention facility, and the Batterer’s Intervention Program. She completed her internship and two years of post-doctoral work at the State Center Community College District (SCCCD), specifically Clovis Community College (CCC). It was at this site where she not only discovered her passion for working with the young adult population, but her dedication for social justice and facilitating weekly “Justice and Healing Talking Circles” for the employees. Some subjects discussed in these talking circles included, but are not limited to teaching kids about racism, learning about microaggressive trauma, and highlighting Black excellence.
In her spare time, Dr. Williams loves listening to disco and “riot grrrl”(punk rock) music, FaceTiming her family, and is always open to hearing true crime podcast recommendations. Most importantly, Dr. Williams is a foodie and loves baked goods.