AURORA, NY (February 27, 2023) – Wells College is pleased to announce Nicola “Nikki” A. Williams ’85 as the keynote speaker for the 2023 Commencement ceremony. She is a social entrepreneur, activist, community organizer, environmentalist, and a passionate advocate for arts, culture, and a sustainable community.
Wells’ 155th Commencement ceremony will take place at 10am Saturday, May 20, 2023 in the circle in front of Macmillan Hall on the Wells College campus in Aurora, NY.
Ms. Williams is a Jamaican immigrant, who grew up in Brooklyn, NY and moved to Cambridge, MA the day after graduating from Wells College. She is the founder and President of The Williams Agency, an award-winning marketing and business strategy firm that works with social and environmental causes, small businesses, and the arts. The Agency plans regional events and partners with nonprofits such as the Sustainable Business Network of MA and Sustainable Food and Culture, Inc.
Lauded a Local Food Hero by the City of Cambridge, Ms. Williams has also received numerous awards for her work in sustainability, sustainable food, and culture. Her recent awards include Sustainable Business Network’s Sustainable Business Leader of the Year in the Community Category, and Boston Magazine’s Best of Boston Award for Boston JerkFest, (a Caribbean food festival) as Boston’s Best Food Festival in 2022. In addition to her current service on Wells College Board of Trustees, she also serves on the boards for the Community Art Center, Harvard Square Neighborhood Association, Cambridge Carnival International, Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts, Sustainable Food and Culture, and is a Corporator of Cambridge Savings Bank.
