GSU Alumna and Student Win Local Elections

Congratulations to GSU’s Chasity Wells-Armstrong and Camiella D. Williams who were elected to serve in local offices in last week’s elections!

Wells-Armstrong, who earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from GSU, was elected Mayor of Kankakee. Wells-Armstrong is Kankakee’s first black and first Democratic mayor since Russell Johnson’s departure in 24 years.

During her tenure with Governors State, Wells-Armstrong served as the president of the Social Work Student Organization and was selected as the national BPD 2007 Policy Fellow. According to BSW Program coordinator Dr. Lorri Glass, “Her educational experiences prepared her for her work in the political arena. Chasity has emerged as a leader in her community and has continued to pursue her “calling” as a change agent. We are extremely proud of her as she puts her social work values into practice.”

Williams, a current master’s student of political and justice studies, was elected to a six-year term on the Prairie State College Board of Trustees. Williams spent three hours daily canvassing the community for support before her landslide victory on Tuesday. She cites Congresswoman Robin Kelly as her mentor, along with GSU professors Donald Culverson and Nicole Warmington-Granson who she says, “pushed me to be a better writer and think outside the box.”

With a goal of enhancing community and student engagement, Williams plans to be active in the fight for higher education funding. She will join GSU in its April 27 trip to Springfield to lobby for funding. Williams says, “It starts locally. Millennials under thirty can make a difference.”