Faculty Profile: Cheryl B. Williams

A twenty-year veteran of immigration practice, Ms. Williams is currently with SunTrust Bank, managing its wide ranging immigration program and serving as a subject-matter expert in immigration for the bank. Visit us at www.OnUp.com. Previously, while in private practice, she specialized in employment- and family-based immigration, naturalization, and employment verification matters, and humanitarian cases. She has developed a particular niche in representing churches, temples, mosques and other houses of worship, and their foreign workforce, in R-1 and I-360 matters.
Ms. Williams is a graduate of the University of Alabama, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 1991 as the Valedictorian of her graduating class. (Roll Tide!) She spent several months in France studying at La Sorbonne, before returning to the U.S. to attend Vanderbilt University School of Law. After graduating in 1995, Ms. Williams joined Rose Immigration Law Firm where she practiced for sixteen years. She joined Siskind Susser PC's Nashville office in 2013 and worked briefly as a solo practitioner before transitioning to SunTrust.
As a member of the American Immigration Lawyer's Association at both the local and national levels, she has provided mentoring to attorneys on various matters including the practice of immigration law and practice management. Ms. Williams has also spoken on immigration issues, and has authored scholarly and advocacy articles for AILA and other immigrant community groups. Finally, she has served as a liaison to government agencies for the local AILA chapter and the national organization.
Ms. Williams is married and the mother of two boys, ages 21 and 16. She is an avid outdoorswoman who enjoys camping, kayaking and canoeing, hiking, and the shooting sports. In addition to being a busy mother and attorney, she is actively engaged in supporting her younger son's activities in Boy Scout Troop 17, chartered at Blakemore United Methodist Church. She has been recognized by the local council, the Nashville City Council, and the U.S. President's office for her volunteer efforts in the scouting program and community. Her eldest son is an Eagle Scout, and her youngest (as of late 2018) is beginning work on his own Eagle Scout project. To learn more about the good scouting does in our local community, visit https://beascout.scouting.org/.