UNMC, the College of Pharmacy and the University of Nebraska Foundation recently hosted a thank-you celebration honoring one of pharmacy’s greatest friends and supporters, Millie Williams.
Williams, with her late husband, Joe, is the namesake of the Joseph D. and Millie E. Williams Science Hall. The couple also were among the principal benefactors of the UNMC Center for Drug Discovery and Lozier Center for Pharmacy Sciences and Education.
Joe Williams, a pharmacy alumnus who died in 2021 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, was a towering figure in the pharmaceutical industry, having led industry giants Parke-Davis and Warner-Lambert.
“He gave the University of Nebraska tremendous credit that he was able to land his first job at the largest pharmaceutical company in the country,” Millie Williams said. “He never forgot that.”
For decades, the Williamses strove to give back to UNMC’s College of Pharmacy, meeting students, taking an interest in faculty and befriending every dean. The Williams name is found throughout the new and former pharmacy buildings. Joe was a driving force behind the college’s first endowed faculty chair, the Parke-Davis Chair in Pharmaceutics, currently held by David Oupicky, PhD.
Then, Joe Williams left the college an estate gift of $20 million, through the foundation’s Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future fundraising campaign.
The transformational donation “allows the college to truly change its trajectory,” said Keith Olsen, PharmD, Joseph D. Williams Endowed Dean of the UNMC College of Pharmacy.
“It’s going to impact students for decades by reducing their financial burden from going to school. And the impact on students has another positive effect,” Dr. Olsen said. “Students go to school here to learn how to take care of patients, and patients are going to be the ultimate recipients of that gift.”
Gold and Williams, as well as a tour of the pharmacy building led by Dean Olsen.
Joe and Millie Williams’ gift endowed the College of Pharmacy deanship in Joe’s name, established a fund to be used to match commitments from other donors to establish new endowed funds for the college, established a permanent endowment fund that can be used for any purpose in support of the college with initial support for scholarships and also supported construction and ongoing maintenance costs for the UNMC Center for Drug Discovery and the Lozier Center for Pharmacy Sciences and Education that opened in 2016.
Millie Williams’ recent visit was the first opportunity for an in-person thank you.
She was emotional in meeting several of the newly named and newly funded Williams Scholars. “Oh, my gosh, I was overwhelmed,” Millie Williams said. “It was such a great experience. I wish Joe could have experienced it.”
She loved that each Williams Scholar she met showed great enthusiasm in undertaking “a new adventure” in attending pharmacy school, the way Joe did long ago.
“I admire the way they are making his dream come true,” she said.
Millie Williams and Joe’s granddaughter, Kelly Gillis, took a complete tour of the medical center, visiting not just the College of Pharmacy, but also:
- The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, including the Chihuly Sanctuary;
- The Davis Global Center; and
- The Wigton Heritage Center and McGoogan Library.
That evening, a reception was held featuring faculty and staff, Williams Scholars, UNMC leadership and others.
The celebration was especially meaningful to the faculty, staff and students of the College of Pharmacy. “I don’t know how often you get to say thank you for a gift like this,” said Donald Klepser, PhD, senior associate dean for academic affairs.
As the college tour went past his office, Christopher Shaffer, PharmD, PhD, associate dean for student affairs and justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, made sure to say “Hi” one more time.
“Thanks again for everything!” he said.
The visit also was meaningful to Millie Williams, who has seen the college grow through the decades. Joe’s mission, she said, always was to give back. As she reflected on the present, and the future, of the College of Pharmacy, she said, “He has indeed accomplished that.”
Wow – what an impactful gift by the Williams family. I had the great opportunity to meet Joe Williams when he first made a major gift to the College of Pharmacy. He was one of the nicest and classiest people I’ve ever met – and, best of all, he never forgot his Nebraska roots. What a man! What a family! Thank you so much. You’ve truly made a difference that will be felt for generations to come.
It was such a pleasure meeting you & Kelly, Millie. What you and Joe have done for UNMC and for students is transformational. We cannot thank you enough, but despite that I will again anyway. Thank you so much!!