Julian R. Williams is the University of South Carolina's first vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. He serves as the university's chief diversity officer and is overseeing the evolution of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in the Provost's Office to the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion under the President's Office. Reporting directly to the president, he is responsible for providing vision and leadership for diversity and inclusion efforts across the university and within the university's curriculum, infrastructure, policies and programs.

Before joining the University of South Carolina, he served as vice president for compliance, diversity and ethics at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and as director of equal opportunity and Title IX officer at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. A native of Michigan, he earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from the Michigan State University College of Law.

In addition, he is member of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education and previously served as president of the organization's Mid-Atlantic chapter.