Mark T. Williams II is a New Orleans-based creative whose work connects education, the arts, agriculture, and workforce development to strengthen economic opportunities for New Orleans youth.
Guided by the belief that Louisiana possesses extraordinary talent, cultural knowledge, diverse industries, and educational resources, Williams has dedicated his career to helping communities leverage those assets for positive social and economic impact.
For nearly a decade, Williams has served as a Career and Technical Education (CTE) educator throughout the Greater New Orleans region, where he identified a disconnect between young people's aspirations, workforce pathways, and access to meaningful educational and career opportunities.
Williams is the Founder and Director of DECAF PubliXations, LLC, a Louisiana BESE-approved Course Choice Provider that delivers credit-bearing afterschool Career and Technical Education programs focused on design, creative and cultural entrepreneurship, and Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources.
In addition to his educational work, Williams serves as Curator of BlackAmericana Fest, a platform dedicated to celebrating the musical heritage, legacy, and contemporary contributions of Black artists creating music within the Americana and Folk traditions throughout the Mississippi River Delta region.
Williams earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Baylor University, a Master of Science in Industrial Design from University of Houston, and a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from Southern University at New Orleans. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Agricultural Education, Extension, and Evaluation at Louisiana State University, where his research focuses on archiving the history of New Orleans agricultural education and developing innovative vocational education models that integrate agriculture, design, arts, entrepreneurship, and community development.
