Lifelong Dedication to Education
Family Support — The School of Education celebrated with Dr. Jimmy Williamson (center), his daughter, and grandchildren at the Hurd Center for an official signing ceremony. Pictured l-r: Justin Ramon (son of the late Amy Williamson), Claire Wilkison (daughter of Shelly Williamson Wilkison), Shelly Wilkison, Dr. Williamson, Katie Wilkison, and Birk Wilkison.
Dr. Jimmy Williamson and his late wife, Glenda, dedicated their lives to education, and his family recently made another significant contribution through the establishment of an endowed scholarship in the Baylor School of Education (SOE). The James L. and Glenda Williamson Endowed Scholarship Fund in Educational Leadership creates a lasting provision for graduate students preparing for leadership in public K-12 schools. Williamson created the fund in loving memory of Glenda, who had an outstanding classroom teaching career. Both graduated from Baylor with education degrees, Williamson in 1957 and Glenda in 1958.
Williamson taught for 15 years at Baylor, preparing future principals and superintendents, and was interim dean of the SOE from 1996-98.
He established the endowment as a tribute to Glenda and “our lives together,” he said. “We studied education together at Baylor, we worked together in the UB cafeteria, we trained together, we taught together.” Their times at Baylor were the bookends of their partnership — “where we first met and where we finished together,” he said. Glenda was very involved in his work at Baylor. “She hosted the students at our home and went on international trips with us,” he said. “They certainly loved her more than they did me. Baylor was our work together, not just my work.”
"I’ve always known I wanted to be a teacher,” Williamson said in an interview during his tenure as dean. His desire was that every Baylor education student “catch the vision of what a teacher can do to change the future and to touch eternity.” —Dr. Jimmy Williamson
Both he and Glenda launched public school teaching careers in Arlington ISD in the late 1950s. During their twelve years there, Williamson earned a master’s and EdD from the University of North Texas, becoming the first employee in Arlington ISD to hold an earned doctorate. He moved into administration in Arlington ISD and later served in leadership for the Texas Education Agency in Austin, establishing the 20 Regional Education Service Centers, and then served at Region XI.
In addition to her service in Arlington, Glenda was a teacher in Commerce, Denton, and McAllen, where she was also a reading specialist for bilingual students.
In 1972, Williamson moved into higher education, leading several departments at newly established Pan American University, and then in 1978, he became professor and dean of the College of Education at East Texas A&M at Commerce.
The Williamsons returned to Baylor in 1990, when he became professor of educational administration. He was the inaugural Fred and Edith Hale Professor of Education, focusing on preparing Christian men and women for leadership and advocating for students to participate in professional training at school campuses.
Since his Baylor retirement in 2005, Williamson has continued to reside in Waco. Glenda died in November of 2023. Both of their daughters are graduates of Baylor — Shelly had a career in journalism and taught high school, and prior to her death, daughter Amy served in Human Resources at Baylor. The Williamsons have four adult grandchildren.
“I’ve always known I wanted to be a teacher,” Williamson said in an interview during his tenure as dean. His desire was that every Baylor education student “catch the vision of what a teacher can do to change the future and to touch eternity.”
To find out more ways that you can support the School of Education, please contact Elisa Dunman at (254) 709-0870 or via email at Elisa_Dunman@baylor.edu.
You may also visit baylor.edu/GIVE.
You may also donate directly here: James L. and Glenda Williamson Endowed Scholarship Fund in Educational Leadership