Michael L Williams

Michael Williams is a retired attorney, former statewide elected official, and charitable benefactor whose public service career spans more than 45 years. He has served as a federal prosecutor, Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, and head of two Texas state agencies.

From 2012 to 2016, Williams served as Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency, overseeing education for more than five million students. Earlier, from 1999 to 2011, he became the only Black American elected to the Executive Branch of Texas state government, serving as Texas Railroad Commissioner.

Raised by public school teachers, Williams learned the value of education, service, and “paying it forward.” Through his foundation, he has supported scholarships and educational initiatives at the University of Southern California and the University of North Texas at Dallas.

He and his wife, Donna, have been married 40 years.