Lisa-Marie Williams (Urban and Regional Planning ’10), always has a volunteer element in her life.
“It keeps me well-rounded,” she says. “I can’t count the times I’ve volunteered for something and left feeling invigorated.”
As in-house lawyer for the Ottawa Hospital after a career switch from urban planning to law, life is busy. But Williams is intentional about prioritizing and scheduling her volunteer roles.
An interest in making a difference to young people’s lives means she has volunteered with the Toronto District School Board’s Black Student Achievement Community Advisory Committee, TMU’s Tri-Mentoring Program and Girls E-Mentorship at the Centre for Social Innovation.
Her love for TMU and a desire to give back also led to Williams being elected as an alumni member on the university’s Board of Governors.
“I wanted to take an active role in shaping its future,” she explains.
“My responsibility is to be attuned to the priorities of TMU’s diverse alumni members and be a bridge between them and the board.”
Williams encourages alumni to volunteer, saying, “It’s never too late. Even if you can’t show up tomorrow or next year, there’s always a reason to get involved. You will always be part of TMU and it will always be your ‘home.’”
