Shannon Williams

Year of Graduation: 1998
Major: Women's Studies

Current Occupation: Federal Crown Prosecutor

I completed my Arts degree with a major in Women's Studies at the U of R in 1998. Just prior to completing my degree, I participated in an International Women's Exchange program to Trinidad and Tobago where I conducted workshops on Poverty, HIV/Aids, domestic violence and substance abuse with the employees at an International Oil Company. Upon completion of my degree I moved to Edmonton to work for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Edmonton with high risk youth. I then went on to work with the Provincial Government as a Child Welfare Worker. In 2001, I decided to return to school and completed my Law degree at the University of Alberta.

I am now working as a Federal Crown Prosecutor with the Public Prosecution Services of Canada in Edmonton. I conduct general drug prosecutions, youth drug prosecutions, and work with our Drug Treatment Court project. At the beginning of 2007, I took a 3 month leave from work and traveled to South Africa to do volunteer work in a primary school doing resource utilization and development with the educators and conducted workshops on HIV/Aids with the children. My Women's Studies degree provided me with an excellent educational foundation and gave me the opportunity both locally and internationally to become involved in interesting work and volunteer experiences.