Orlando Native Appointed to Head New Jersey Nonprofit

Elizabeth Williams-Riley

Orlando native Elizabeth Williams-Riley, a graduate of the University of Central Florida (Advertising & Public Relations), has been appointed president and CEO of the American Conference on Diversity. As the first African-American woman under 40 to take the helm of the NJ-based nonprofit, Elizabeth brings nearly two decades of experience in education, training and consulting on diversity issues to major corporations, businesses, schools and communities to her new position.

In 1995, Elizabeth began providing insight and guidance on human relations and diversity initiatives for both adults and youth throughout Central Florida and the United States with The National Conference for Community and Justice (now called the American Conference on Diversity in NJ) of Greater Orlando. Williams-Riley served as the Associate Director of NCCJ Greater Orlando and left Orlando in 2000 to pursue her career in social justice and became National Director for Programming for The National Conference for Community and Justice, founded in 1927 as The National Conference of Christians and Jews in New York City.

While in Orlando, she served as a Board Member for Tangelo Park YMCA and was a member of the Junior League of Greater Orlando. Elizabeth, who grew in Richmond Heights, enhanced and created diversity programs to reach more than 5,000 community members annually. These programs include Metrotown USA, Youth Leadership Diversity Team, Orlando’s Annual MLK Candlelight March and Vigil, NCCJ Thanksgiving Luncheon, NCCJ Humanitarian Awards Dinner, NCCJ Interfaith Multicultural Fair, Police Youth Summit, Community Dialogue and Town Meeting,  and NCCJ Walk-As-One walk-a-thon.