Longtime central Ohio public administrator and community mobilizer Carla Williams-Scott has been named senior manager for community outreach and strategic partnerships at The Ohio State University’s Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity. Williams-Scott most recently served as director of the Department of Neighborhoods for the city of Columbus. She will begin her role at Ohio State on Aug. 12.
At Kirwan, Williams-Scott will manage existing community outreach partnerships, most notably My Brother’s Keeper Ohio (MBK Ohio), and create new partnerships with local and state community organizations to achieve Kirwan’s goal of 25 new strategic partnerships over the next 10 years.
“Kirwan is best known for its strong community-engaged research that brings communities and policymakers together to develop effective solutions to the inequities of opportunity,” said Kirwan Institute Executive Director Ange-Marie Hancock. “Carla’s work in this role is fully one-third of our strategic vision and an essential component of continuing Kirwan’s legacy going forward.”
From her early days as an assistant director at the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services to her leadership positions within the City of Columbus Department of Development, Williams-Scott’s rich, multifaceted career path has been marked by impactful community development and creating inclusive opportunities. A champion of community well-being, her instrumental work at the United Way of Central Ohio further underscores her commitment to positive change.
“Over the last 20-plus years, I have spent my career working with organizations, individuals and community groups — building relationships in the public and private sectors,” said Williams-Scott. “I am particularly excited to leverage those relationships to help organizations understand the work of the Kirwan Institute and how using data can ‘tell the story’ to different audiences and, in some cases, help facilitate difficult conversations.”
During her eight-year tenure with the Department of Neighborhoods, Williams-Scott spearheaded robust neighborhood community revitalization programs in the Linden and Hilltop neighborhoods, fostering stronger connections among residents. Additionally, she prioritized youth programming and was influential in managing several vital initiatives to create safe spaces, encourage inclusivity and empower young voices, including MBK Columbus, the Commission on Black Girls and the New American Leadership Academy. Her commitment extended to enhancing the city’s 311 non-emergency customer service center, ensuring efficient and responsive communication with the community.
“Carla’s work at the city of Columbus and her work for United Way, along with her strong background of impactful board service, means she has the relationships, the gravitas and the knowledge of how to get things done,” said Hancock. “She will hit the ground running, and we are excited to have someone with her qualifications and long experience in Columbus join us.”
Williams-Scott earned a Bachelor of Science in medical communication from Ohio State. An active supporter of mutiple central Ohio nonprofit and community agencies, she holds board positions with the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Neighborhood Design Center, IMPACT Community Action Agency, Franklin County Rise Innovation Center and the Reeb Center.
Established in 2003, the Kirwan Institute is the home to scholars, affiliated faculty, collaborators and community partners who conduct research to inform policies and practices that help create a just and inclusive society where all people and communities have an opportunity to succeed.