The Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs provides administrative oversight for the schools, colleges, online learning, and academic support resources of Norfolk State University.
Continuing Norfolk State University’s tradition of service, the Office of the Provost promotes and encourages community involvement. The Office of the Provost provides a variety of programs and opportunities in which the students, faculty, and staff may demonstrate altruistic spirit.
The Office of the Provost operates under the leadership of Dr. Aurelia Taylor Williams '94, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Aurelia Taylor Williams '94 is a transformational academic leader, accomplished cybersecurity scholar, and passionate advocate for inclusive excellence in higher education. With more than 20 years of progressive experience in faculty affairs, educational administration, research, and public service, Dr. Williams currently serves as the Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Norfolk State University (NSU). In this role, she is responsible for shaping the academic vision and operational leadership of the university’s educational enterprise, overseeing strategic planning, program development, institutional effectiveness, and academic policy in support of student success and faculty advancement.
Dr. Williams has served NSU in numerous senior leadership roles, including Senior Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs, Interim Vice Provost for Research and Innovation, and Interim Vice Provost for Academic Administration. Her efforts in these roles have had a lasting impact across the university. She led initiatives to improve faculty development, streamline academic policies, advance budget strategies, and increase external funding. Under her leadership, NSU secured its first Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, which provided investment in curriculum redesign and faculty training to enhance online learning. She also co-authored and contributed to the development of several competitive grant proposals that resulted in more than $10 million in external awards for the Office of the Provost.
As a tenured Professor of Computer Science, Dr. Williams is also the Founding Executive Director of the NSU Cybersecurity Complex, a strategic initiative aimed at expanding cybersecurity research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and workforce pipeline development. In this role, she has positioned NSU as a national leader in cybersecurity education and innovation. She has secured over $50 million in external funding through federal, state, and private grants, including a $25 million award from the Department of Energy to lead the Consortium Enabling Cybersecurity Opportunities and Research (CECOR). This multi-institutional partnership included 13 HBCUs and two Department of Energy national laboratories and was designed to increase participation of underrepresented groups in the cybersecurity workforce.
Dr. Williams also served as Chair of the Department of Computer Science, where she guided the department through exponential growth, ABET re-accreditation, and the development of new academic programs. Under her leadership, NSU launched a fully online Master of Science in Cybersecurity and expanded interdisciplinary integration of cybersecurity concepts across multiple academic departments. Since 2009, NSU has maintained its designation as a National Security Agency/Department of Homeland Security Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education, a recognition directly supported by her vision and leadership.
Her early career included roles as a computer scientist and analyst with the Department of Defense and SPAWAR Systems Center, bringing technical expertise and federal insight to her work in academic leadership.
Throughout her career, Dr. Williams has consistently focused on strengthening institutional capacity, student success, and faculty engagement. She is known for building collaborative relationships with local, state, and national agencies to expand opportunities for faculty research and student development. At NSU, she has chaired numerous university committees and academic initiatives focused on program excellence, student retention, strategic planning, and equity.
Dr. Williams has also held leadership positions in major state and regional initiatives. She served as the Inaugural Chair of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) Diversity and Inclusion Committee, an Executive Committee Member of the CCI Coastal Virginia Node (COVA), and a Regional Advisory Board Member for the 757 Regional Internship Collaborative. Her professional expertise extends to grant writing, faculty affairs, online learning strategy, and academic program design.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Norfolk State University, her Master of Science in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University, and her Doctor of Professional Studies from Pace University, with a specialization in computer science pedagogy.
Dr. Williams’ contributions to academia and public service have been recognized widely. She was honored as a Distinguished Alumni (Class of 2024) by Norfolk State University and named one of CovaBiz’s 150 Most Influential People (2025). Her other recognitions include the U.S. Department of Treasury’s HBCU Visionary Award, NSU’s Alumni STAR Award, Largest Grant Award, and the “Sixth Man Award” for Excellence in External Funding. Additional honors include community-based recognitions from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and the NAACP for her mentorship and educational leadership.
A champion of service and mentorship, Dr. Williams is a Life Member and Silver Star of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, where she currently serves as Tidewater Cluster Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Region. She is also the Immediate Past President of the Chesapeake/Virginia Beach Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, a premier women’s service organization.
Outside of her professional roles, Dr. Williams finds fulfillment in faith, family, and community. She enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her husband, Aurthor C. Williams, Jr., and their four children: Azad, Atrell, Aaron, and Jhanae.