Cristina A. Smith Williams (BA ’92, Communication) and John L. Williams (BCE ’88, Chemical Engineering, JD ’92) have been known to tell others that they “bleed blue and gold.” Indeed, their ties to The University of Tulsa are strong, dating back to their college days and continuing to John’s term as TU Alumni Association president (2012-2014) and to Cristina’s service as a staff member in TU’s Office of University Advancement and Alumni Engagement. In addition to these ties, Cristina and John are the parents of TU graduate James C. Smith Williams (BBA ’21, Finance), TU graduate J. Iyan Smith Williams (BA ’24, Spanish, BS ’24, Mathematics), and TU student Alaynna N. Smith Williams.
John and Cristina have generously supported their alma mater since 1990 with gifts fortifying both academics and athletics. In 2011, they created four endowments to support scholarships in conjunction with TU’s Pioneer Life Insurance Program – foresight that made them members of the Chapman Legacy Society.
John Williams has been building a successful career since his graduation from TU, beginning with work at Exxon USA, followed by work with the esteemed law firm Conner & Winters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he specialized in energy and Native American law, and culminating in his private practice, John T. Williams, LLC. John shares his practice with now-husband, Rodney T. Williams, who has adopted the family’s enthusiasm for TU.
Cristina Smith Williams worked as an independent public relations and communications professional before joining the staff at TU, first serving in the Collins College of Business before moving to the Office of University Advancement and Alumni Engagement.
John Williams is a first-generation college graduate from the small town of Talala, Oklahoma, and he continues to appreciate the quality education he received at The University of Tulsa and the scholarship assistance he was given as a student.
Halee Scott (BCE ’13, Chemical Engineering) also is a first-generation college student from a small town (Bristow, Oklahoma) and is grateful for the scholarship assistance she received at TU. She recognizes that this support was a key factor in her educational success. In 2011, Halee Scott graciously agreed to serve as the insured party for a life insurance gift to be funded by John L. Williams and Cristina Smith Williams; this gift created their four Pioneer Program endowments at The University of Tulsa.
The S2W Engineering Endowed Scholarship Fund is named in recognition of Halee’s last name and the last names of John’s and Cristina’s children: Scott and Smith Williams. This scholarship endowment will support engineering undergraduate students, with a preference for candidates from small towns who are first-generation college students. The Smith Williams Family Endowed Scholarship Fund will support students in any major; the Dona L. and Roger B. Williams Sigma Nu Endowed Scholarship Fund is named for John’s beloved parents and his TU fraternity, and the Ana Maria Lloyd Jones Endowed Scholarship Fund is named for Cristina’s dear family friend, who made her studies at TU possible.
The University of Tulsa family is grateful to these True-Blue friends, who have made it their priority to create opportunities for future TU students.
