With more than two decades post-justice involvement as an advocate for people with disabilities, people directly impacted by the legal system, and people with substance use disorders (SUD), Dr. William Sansing has an intense passion for equitable and accessible opportunities for everyone. He recently retired from his roles as an Associate Dean of Instruction and District Director of Student Counseling, Advising, and Dual Enrollment Services at East Mississippi Community College where he served as a point person for institution-wide programs and policies to increase access to and student success in higher education, which included bridging students who have been directly impacted by the justice system through adult basic educational programs to educational opportunities.

William currently works with The Mississippi Bail Fund Collective and The People’s Advocacy Institute through a joint project with The Bail Project and the Highlander Research and Education Center in Mississippi’s 16th Judicial District, which includes Clay, Lowneds, Noxubee, and Oktibbeha Counties.

William is a JLUSA 2019 Leading with Conviction graduate, is also past Board President for Southern Recovery Advocacy (SRA), which aims to assist individuals with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) while educating the public.  SRA promotes an extensive network of strategically located Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs), which implement a Four-Pillar approach to SUD recovery and reentry including appropriate treatment/intensive services, community support/housing, education/workforce training, and job placement. William is a part-time mental health, alcohol and drug therapist with Starkville Wellness Group ( https://www.starkvillewellness.com/) where he serves clients who may be in recovery or facing legal challenges, and also works as a weekend therapist at The Oxford Treatment Center of American Addiction Centers, where he provides weekend oversight of individual and group treatment services. He received a Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services and Sociology from Mississippi State University.