Gail Carr Williams

Community Leader

Gail holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Detroit School of Law. She practiced law in Michigan and later as a human resources employee relations specialist as well the executive assistant of outreach and engagement for the university at The Ohio State University. In 2001, she began her tenure at Vanderbilt University and held the position of associate director of community relations until March 2020. She was responsible for building partnerships and collaborations on behalf of the university through innovative and creative academic based programming. In 2014, Gail became an instructor at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development’s Independent School Leadership M.ED. program; she teaches courses in independent school governance and community engagement.

Gail is a strong community leader who understands the power of engagement to create a deeper understanding of the issues of our communities along with strategic responses that create sustainable positive change.

Gail serves as chair of the Metropolitan Nashville Transit Authority board of directors. Additionally, she serves the Nashville arts community by serving on the boards of The Frist Art Museum, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and The Nashville Symphony; Gail is also a board member of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee along with their Women’s Fund Advisory Board as well as the Region’s Foundation Board. Her education boards consist of the University School of Nashville, American Baptist College, and the Nashville Public Education Foundation. She also very proudly serves her alma mater University of Michigan as a member of the LSA Dean’s Advisory Council.

Gail is a member of the Nashville (TN) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated. She loves spending time with her family and friends and enjoys traveling, sports, and reading.