LITHIA WILLIAMS
Santa Ana College
Anaheim,CA
1
Certification
41
years of professional experience
Higher Education Professional experienced in progressive administrative leadership within program management, compliance, training development, and student services. Achieved improved educational outcomes by designing and delivering programs, analyzing data, and fostering collaboration across departments. Focused on enhancing curriculum, fostering learner engagement, and building partnerships to create inclusive and equitable learning environments.
Work History
Community Education Program Coordinator II
21 Years- Strategic Leadership & Program Development
- Spearheaded design, implementation, and oversight of special projects aligned with guided pathways to enhance career development and foster community engagement.
- Developed strategic plans and comprehensive reports using data analytics to inform policy decisions and optimize service delivery across departments.
- Developed strategic plans and comprehensive reports using data analytics to inform policy decisions and improve service delivery across departments.
- Recruited, trained, supervised, and evaluated diverse teams including instructors, student assistants, volunteers, and contractors; fostered a culture of empowerment and critical thinking.
- Served as EEO monitor and active member of hiring committees; conducted interviews and performance evaluations to ensure equitable and effective staffing.
- Budgeting, Finance & Contract Administration
- Managed special funds accounts, including payroll processing, revenue deposits, expenditure reconciliation, and procurement of equipment and supplies.
- Secured multiple professional service contracts approved by the Board of Trustees, generating alternative funding sources and maintaining fiscal accountability.
- Administered and negotiated contracts, proposals, and bids in alignment with the district.
- Marketing, Communications & Public Relations
- Designed and executed marketing campaigns, social media content, and promotional materials for workshops, seminars, and classes; maintained department website and program pages.
- Produced and distributed the Santa Ana College Community Education Program brochure three times annually; coordinated with vendors and local organizations for outreach.
- Represented department at city and county resource fairs, recognition events, and public forums to promote programs and increase community visibility.
- Governance, Committees & Institutional Engagement
- Appointed executive, shared governance, ad hoc, hiring, and state board committees; contributed to strategic planning and institutional decision-making.
- Authored program annual review reports, committee summaries, and recommendation documents to support continuous improvement and accountability.
- Attended professional development workshops to enhance industry knowledge.
Senior Account Clerk
7 Years- Oversaw the preparation, reconciliation, and analysis of automated financial reports to support strategic decision-making and ensure fiscal accountability across special programs.
- Managed and reviewed expenditure reports for self-funded program, ensuring compliance with financial regulations and improving financial transparency.
- Developed and implemented procedures for accounts payable activities, including invoice verification, corrective action coordination, and vendor communication to maintain financial accuracy and vendor relations.
- Conducted detailed audits of reimbursements and vendor invoices, ensuring procedural integrity and alignment with budgetary constraints.
- Allocated, coded, and adjusted accounts in coordination with finance teams, supporting efficient budget tracking and financial reporting.
- Prepared and monitored payroll allocations and salary calculations for program staff, aligning expenditures with approved budgets and restrictions.
- Generated cash flow statements, fixed asset schedules, and profit and loss reports, facilitating informed financial planning and meeting institutional reporting standards.
- Provided financial guidance and support to students and program stakeholders, reinforcing a student-centered and service-oriented environment.
- Maintained internal controls by posting budget transactions, preparing journal entries, and reconciling general ledger accounts in support of transparent fiscal operations.
Purchasing Specialist
1 Year 6 Months- Oversaw the preparation, review, and compliance verification of purchase requisitions, RFPs, and vendor contracts, ensuring alignment with funded account requirements and city policies.
- Coordinated procurement and licensing for technology-related (PeopleSoft) purchases in collaboration with IT Services, supporting digital infrastructure for city-wide initiatives.
- Generated financial and budget reports for executive review, including Mayor & City Council documentation, enabling transparent fiscal oversight.
- Generated financial and budget reports for executive review, including documentation for Mayor & City Council, ensuring transparent fiscal oversight.
- Contributed to strategic planning by developing procurement goals, work standards, and process improvements.
- Created instructional materials to enhance institutional purchasing practices and streamline system navigation.
Accounting Specialist
10 Years 10 Months- Fiscal Compliance
- Led the review and approval of high-value claims and expenditures, validating documentation against laws, procedures, and board-approved contracts.
- Audited invoices, warrants, and purchase orders for compliance with contractual and grant-funded obligations.
- Interpreted and applied financial regulations to diverse fiscal scenarios, resolving discrepancies and ensuring alignment with institutional and state policies.
- Directed complex budget management processes, including posting and reconciling financial transactions, verifying ledger accuracy, and ensuring balanced entries across accounts payable and receivable systems.
- Managed payroll preparation and distribution for program staff and student workers, applying complex classification rules and ensuring regulatory compliance, including FLSA adjustments and supplemental pay calculations.
- Coordinated disbursement of allocated funds and payroll checks while maintaining internal controls and submitting source documents to county and district-level systems.
- Financial Reporting & Systems Management
- Prepared financial statements, budget reports, and reconciliation summaries to inform institutional planning and decision-making.
- Maintained oversight of complex accounting classifications, ensuring accurate sub-categorization and funding source tracking for program budget.
- Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Served as a fiscal liaison to departments, vendors, and external agencies, providing guidance on accounting procedures and resolving inquiries regarding budget allocations and procurement.
- Acted as a department resource for training and onboarding of staff on financial systems, compliance procedures, and workflow documentation.
- Participated in process improvement initiatives and system testing to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of financial operations districtwide.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Business Administration, Concentration: General Management
Certificate of Completion - Promotional Success Academy
Certificate of Completion - 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth
Certificate of Completion - Sexual Harassment Prevention Training, Keenan Safe College Training
Certificate of Completion - Women’s Leadership Program
Associate of Arts - Business Administration, Concentration in Accounting
Skills
Educational leadership
Strategic planning
Project management
Partnership development
Content Automation
Microsoft Suite
(Outlook
Word
Excel
Teams)
SharePoint management
Graphic Design Tools
Ellucian
Colleague
Ad Astra
Modern Campus
Touchnet
Marketplace
Perceptive (payroll)
Social Media Strategy
Certification
Women’s Leadership Program, Certificate of Completion, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, Sexual Harassment Prevention Training, Certificate of Completion – Keenan Safe College Training, Rancho Santiago Community College District, Santa Ana, CA, 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, Certificate of Completion, Santa Ana College, Santa Ana, CA, Promotional Success Academy, Certificate of Completion, Rancho Santiago Community College District, Santa Ana
RELEVANT COURSEWORK
- Completed coursework in the following classes at California State University, Fullerton:
- Business Communication
- Business Analytics
- Managing Operations
- Quality Control Management
- Organizational Behavior
- Principles of Marketing
- Team Leadership
- Principles of Information Systems
- Financial Management
- Interpersonal Communication Theory
- Employment Law
- Management Services Organization
- Business Microeconomics
- Strategic Management
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Awards for Excellence Committee, Santa Ana College, Santa Ana, College Council/Classified Representative, Santa Ana College, Santa Ana, Umoja/U2 Scholars Advisory Committee, Santa Ana College, Santa Ana
Timeline
Community Education Program Coordinator II
Santa Ana College
10.2005 - CurrentRead More
Senior Account Clerk
Santa Ana College
10.1998 - 10.2005Read More
Purchasing Specialist
City of Costa Mesa
05.1997 - 11.1998Read More
Accounting Specialist
County of Orange – Superior Court
02.1986 - 12.1996Read More
Santa Ana College
Associate of Arts from Business Administration, Concentration in Accounting
Read More
California State University
Certificate of Completion from Women’s Leadership Program
Read More
Rancho Santiago Community College District
Certificate of Completion from Sexual Harassment Prevention Training, Keenan Safe College Training
Read More
Santa Ana College
Certificate of Completion from 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth
Read More
Rancho Santiago Community College District
Certificate of Completion from Promotional Success Academy
Read More
California State University, Fullerton
Bachelor of Arts from Business Administration, Concentration: General Management
Read More