Paige Williams

People & Culture Senior Manager
Paige@VOCEL.org

“I believe every child’s potential begins with their earliest experiences. When we invest in their growth, we invest in a future where opportunity isn’t dictated by circumstance.”

Paige is an education advocate, policy strategist, and leadership coach dedicated to addressing systemic inequities. A Detroit native and the daughter of two public school educators, she grew up understanding both the power of education and the barriers to accessing it. As a student, she frequently challenged policies at school board meetings, advocating for meaningful change. Attending the University of Chicago broadened her awareness of systemic disparities in education.

A “Double Maroon,” Paige holds a Bachelor’s degree in Comparative Human Development, specializing in Culture and Community, and Psychology (with a focus on neuroscience) and a Master’s in Public Policy from UChicago. Her academic and professional work has centered on social inequality, identity formation, and the policies shaping human opportunity.

Paige’s career began in education research, where she studied racial and gender biases in learning environments and social neuroscience. Seeking to apply her findings in practice, she transitioned to policy advocacy as a fellow at Advance Illinois, where she helped shape Illinois’ Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan and contributed to the passage of the state’s 2017 school funding reform. She later developed expertise in leadership and operations at a national supply chain company, where she overhauled recruiting strategies and launched a Diversity Talent Acquisition division.

Committed to equity-driven change, Paige served as a Chicago United for Equity fellow, where she helped implement Racial Equity Impact Assessments to challenge school closures. This work contributed to the first successful legal challenge of school closure on racial discrimination grounds in U.S. history.

Now, Paige channels her expertise into leadership coaching and mentorship, guiding individuals and teams in fostering authentic leadership and organizational growth. Drawn to VOCEL’s mission of ensuring every child, regardless of background, has the foundation for lifelong success, she is excited to apply her experience in people and culture strategy to support educators, families, and young learners.

Outside of work, she enjoys travel, crafting, playing the piano, cooking, volleyball, baking, volunteering, and mixology. She also co-hosts Daddy Daughter Wednesday, a podcast with her father.