Tanya O. Williams’ mission is to provide and create spaces in relationships, conversations, communities for all people to feel seen and appreciated for their authentic selves.  She believes that educating and working toward equity, as well as creating spaces of justice and communication all grow out of that desire.  Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Tanya is based in both New York City and Oakland, CA and leads Authentic Coaching and Consulting (www.authenticseeds.org). Clients include NYU Stern School of Business, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), LGBT Sports Coalition, Colorado State University, The Moth, Spence School, Community Roots Charter School and others.  She has over 20 years of diversity, inclusion, and social justice teaching, programming and facilitation experience in higher education including professional roles at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Mount Holyoke College, and Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. She holds a doctorate (Ed.D) in Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and her dissertation focused on internalized racial oppression and process toward liberation. She also holds an MS in Educational Administration and BA in Journalism and English from Texas A&M University.