On a campus of nearly 28,000 students, it’s difficult to find those who stand out among the rest. Angelo Williams, 36, might be one of those students.

Williams is in his second stint at Sacramento State and is taking part in one of the university’s newest programs.

This fall, Sac State, along with a handful of other California State Universities, launched its first doctorate of education program.

According to the program’s website, the program is designed for working professionals.

“The three-year independent doctorate will provide advanced training for administrators in elementary and secondary schools and community colleges,” according to the website.

Williams is among the first 18 students enrolled in the program.

“It’s a once in a lifetime, historic opportunity,” Williams said.

Born and raised in Inglewood, Williams said people have different opinions and preconceived notions about those who live there.

“Society in general has lower expectations for people born in Inglewood,” he said.

Williams said that regardless of what anybody else thought or said, he was always driven to succeed.

Williams said that with his father being an elementary school teacher and his mother being a missionary, they continually stressed that education is freedom.

After graduating from Crenshaw High School, Williams followed in his father’s footsteps and attended the University of California, Davis.

Once there, it didn’t take long for Williams to change from a sociology and African-American studies major to an education major. He said that although sociology didn’t work out for him, his classes taught him that everything is a social construct.

Williams is quick to point out times in his youth where he knew education was his calling.

“I was always the kid who explained things to others?always the one to raise my hand first in class,” he said.

While attending UC Davis, Williams took the opportunity to study abroad at the University of Ghana in West Africa.

“I spent a year there and it was the best experience of my life,” Williams said.

After returning from West Africa, Williams decided to get his masters in education from Sac State.

For Williams, getting a doctorate has always been one of his biggest goals. Being in the program will bring him one step closer to making his dream a reality.

“I knew that part of my purpose in life is to be a teacher, an instructor,” Williams said.

Williams is grateful for Sen. Jack Scott (D-Altadena), who authored the bill allowing select CSU campuses to launch their own independent doctorate of education program and for allowing him to pursue his dream.

“Having the program increases the level of intensity around finding solutions to the achievement gap,” Williams said.

Williams said the program is very rigorous. One semester in the program is equivalent to three semesters at any four-year institution.

For Sac State students in the doctorate program, it involves two years of instruction, one year of research and a dissertation.

Jose Chavez, one of the program’s assistant professors, said Williams was a prime candidate for acceptance into the program.

“He’s the type of student this program is intended for,” Chavez said.

Chavez, along with fellow professor Lila Jacobs, is teaching transformational leadership. He said the program is intended to develop leaders.

Along with being a student in the program, Williams is also an educational lobbyist and works for School Services of California. He said his job involves trying to obtain funding, resources and policy changes for community colleges and K-12 schools.

Williams said the bar was set high for admittance into the program.

“I think the 18 folks in the program are really the highest quality people?not only in Sacramento but in the state,” Williams said.

Miguel Ceja, assistant director for the program, said the purpose of the program is to increase and foster student success.

“Leadership is the key component to foster success,” Ceja said. “The program aims to produce the next level of leaders in the K-12 and community college levels.”

Williams said he can already see himself crossing the graduation stage in front of his family and friends. He said he can already visualize what he’s wearing and how the photos will look.

Williams has other plans for the future.

“I’m looking forward to attempting to help fortify urban institutions?because they were there for my family and I think they should be there for everyone else who decides to take the opportunity,” he said.

Jose Martinez can be reached at [email protected].