Kimberly Williams-Guy (’08)

Kimberly completed her BS in Biology, with a minor in Chemistry, in 2008 — where one of her fondest memories is her induction into the Tri-Beta National Biology Honor Society — and has continued to conduct and be involved in scientific research throughout her professional career. Upon graduation, she enrolled at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and completed her Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences in 2011. Today, she is once again a student (and employee) of UTHSC, in pursuit of her PhD in Health Outcomes and Policy Research.

Kimberly began her career at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in 2011 as a Research Technologist in the Department of Surgery/Diagnostic Imaging. While at St. Jude, she was awarded the Best Research Technologist award after completion of research that identified key cell-signaling molecules in pediatric Melanoma cell lines and xenografts, resulting in increased funding for the research efforts in her lab. In 2017, she transitioned to the research industry as a a Research Assistant and Clinical Trial Analyst at CirQuest Labs.

In 2019, Kimberly transitioned again to the field of research administration when she returned to her graduate school alma mater, UTHSC, as an Institutional Review Board Research Specialist. Within a year, she was promoted to her current position of Institutional Review Board Reliance Manager, wherein she assists in the protection of the rights and welfare of people involved in scientific and medical research. In this position, she has executed institutional reliance agreements with Baptist Memorial Hospital, which has led to increased institutional dollars for UTHSC by providing their faculty to carry out sponsored clinical research at the hospital.

Kimberly is also an entrepreneur with Mary Kay Cosmetics and has been an affiliated business owner since 2015. She enjoys having skin care parties with her customers and currently leads a team of over 10 professional women. She is building her business now to create residual income when she eventually retires from her research career.

Kimberly has served as a member of the Endocrinology Society and is currently a member of Alpha Kappa Psi National Business Fraternity, the National Association of Professional Women, and the DeSoto County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. She is also a member of the Alpha Kappa Psi National Business Fraternity and the National Association of Professional Women.

While Kimberly is involved with many community service events through her church, Brown Missionary Baptist Church in Southaven, and through Delta Sigma Theta, her true volunteer passion is mentoring. She has served as a mentor for CBU First Generation students for more than 11 years a mentor with TNAchieves for over eight years, and a mentor with UTHSC Promise for four years. In her role as a mentor, her responsibilities include participating in campus events, offering guidance for volunteer and course opportunities, and ensuring that students meet their own volunteer requirements to maintain scholarships.

The most valuable lesson I learned while at CBU that has helped me in life is that no matter how the odds may be stacked against you can prevail and achieve all goals you set out to accomplish.