The Department of Athletics is always looking for ways to promote the accomplishments of its former student-athletes and will be conducting a series of Alumni Spotlight's to highlight their professional accomplishments. If you have a success story you would like to share, please contact Assistant AD for External Relations Tim Lutz at tlutz1@aum.edu or at 334-244-3832. He can also be reached on Facebook or Twitter (@timlutz). We would love to hear from you and share your accomplishments.
 
Today's Alumni Spotlight features Dr. Crystal Williams, a three-time All-American, a 2007 member of the AUM Athletics Hall of Fame and a two-time graduate from Auburn Montgomery. Williams lettered from 1997-2001 for the women's basketball team, helping the Senators to a 119-26 record and four NAIA National Tournaments including Elite Eight appearances in 1999 and 2000, a Sweet 16 appearance in 1998, and a National Runner Up finish in 2001.
 
Williams joined the Senators from Baldwin High School in Milledgeville, Ga., where she was a three-time most valuable player and team captain in basketball, while also earning three regional track championships and the 1997 State Championship in the 300m low hurdles.
 
During her four-year career, Williams appeared in a program record 145 games and currently ranks second all-time in scoring with 1,913 points and first in rebounds with 1,508. She is one of just two Senators to pull down more than 1,000 rebounds, but leads No. 2 on the list, Carla Douglas, by 466 rebounds.
 
Williams earned NAIA Second-Team All-America accolades as a sophomore, before garnering First-Team accolades as a junior and senior. She was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Kodak All-American team in 2001 and was chosen the Georgia-Alabama-Carolina Conference Player of the Year in 2000.
 
Now, Williams lives in Locust Grove, Ga., with her husband, Anthony, and two sons, Anthony II and Christian. Professionally, she has reached the pinnacle of higher education by earning her doctorate in education and now is a Student Support Facilitator at Hampton Middle School.
 
She is also an adjust instructor at Gordon College, an Independent Consult for a direct sales jewelry company and Director of Basketball Operations for Atlanta South Hoops, Inc.
 
For more information on what Crystal is doing and how AUM played a role in her professional success, please check out the Q&A below.
 
1. Where are you living now and what are you doing? Did you know you always wanted to do what you are doing professionally?
I currently live in Locust Grove Georgia, where I am a Student Support Facilitator (SSF) for Students with Disabilities at a local middle school, I am an adjunct instructor at Gordon College, an Independent Consultant for a Direct Sales Jewelry company and Director of Basketball Operations for Atlanta South Hoops, Inc. From a very young age I knew my gifts and talents was centered around motivating, coaching, and teaching. As an SSF I am responsible for supporting school teams by assisting teachers with implementing specially designed instructional strategies and supporting compliance practices. I also provide professional development, assist with data-driven decision making and behavioral supports. I serve on my county's leadership team as a Mindset Trainer, for verbal and physical de-escalation. As a Mindset trainer, our leadership team certifies district employees with the Mindset curriculum. This year will mark my 5th year as an adjunct instructor at Gordon College. I currently teach a fully online course and a hybrid course. I have quickly established myself as an Independent Jewelry consultant with one of the strongest teams in the region. As the Director of Basketball Operations for Atlanta South Hoops, Inc. I work with player development, coaching, fundraising, and community outreach. Atlanta South Hoops, Inc. is a non-profit basketball organization. Recently we completed a successful Boys to Men Workshop with breakout sessions for parents and players. Some of the sessions included nutrition, setting Smart Goals, One on One with Coach, and becoming an Elite Parent. In November we adopted a family whose house burned down for Thanksgiving. The boys prepared a basket with a ham, turkey, and all the Thanksgiving Day Dinner trimmings. Our goal is to adopt a family for Christmas and participate in a Day of Service of Martin Luther King's Day of Service.
 
2. How did your time as a student and student-athlete at AUM prepare you for your career and life after college?
I refer to my time at AUM as the growing years. As a student-athlete at AUM, my coaches and professors helped me lay the foundation for my work ethic, my ability to preserve, and my ability to work in excellence expecting nothing in return. I remember having study hall on road trips, morning sign-ins, team academic recognition, breaking down film, morning practices, mid-day practices, volunteering, Big Sisters Little Sisters, 5K road races, basketball clinics, and scouting reports. I consider all of these as levels of accountability that made me a better teacher, coach, SSF, adjunct instructor, Jewelry Consultant, mom, wife, and person. 
 
3.  What are your goals for the near future in regard to your career? Do you have a plan for the next 2-3 years?
I am in a very good place as far as my career goes. This year is my 18th year as an educator the fourth year in a leadership role. In the next 3 years, my career goal as an SSF is to build capacity at my school in order to positively impact learning for students with disabilities.
 
4. When is the last time you've been to campus? How has the campus changed?
I was actually on campus in October 2018 for a meet and greet. Every time I visit it seems like a new building has been built. I am very impressed with what I see at AUM. I just hope and pray that the student-athletes we bring in appreciated what AUM has to offer.
 
5.  What originally attracted you to AUM as a student-athlete?
As a high school player, I saw the bigger picture, coaches and professors were the most impactful thing that stood out to me during my visit at AUM. I was heavily recruited by most of the teams in the Peach Belt Conference, but most of my visits to those schools were centered around basketball, players and social life. When I visited AUM, I met with genuine professors who wanted to support student-athletes and the coaches had a good relationship with the players. The coaches knew what classes players had, what tests players should be preparing for. I knew I wanted people like that in my corner because Graduation was the only option.
 
6. What are some of the most memorable moments from your time as a student-athlete at AUM?
Some of my most memorable moments while at AUM were preseason workouts. My last three years, Coach Crotz decided to enter our team in a 5K road race to see who actually completed their summer workout program. While one year one of my teammates crossed the finish line with the major of Stanhope Elmore. Well that set the entire team up for a second road race and a tough pre-season. Another most memorable moment was playing for a national NAIA National Championship. 
 
7.  How often do you keep in touch with your former teammates?
I stay in touch with most of my teammates through Facebook.
 
8.  What are some things you enjoy doing in your free time?
During my free time, I enjoy working out, sewing, going to the Atlanta Hawks games and attending my boys sporting events.
 
9. What advice would you have for the current student-athletes at AUM?
Mindset is everything, playing sports on the college level is an opportunity to work daily, be a good teammate, communicate, and maximize your output daily.
 
10. Anything else you would like to share with the AUM community?
I am very proud of my education:
Bachelors in Education - AUM 2000
Master in Education - AUM 2002
Education Specialist - Troy University - 2005
Doctorate of Education - Walden University - 2013
 
I have been happily married to Anthony Williams for 10 years and counting. We have two boys Anthony II who is 9 and Christian who is 5. Anthony and Christian both play travel baseball and basketball. My Husband and I created Atlanta South Hoops, Inc. in order to ensure the student-athletes we serve receives a good balance of fundamental basketball, agility training, community volunteering, and mentorship needed to navigate life and sports. Our life mission is to motivate every person we encounter to maximize their life daily. I am also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.