Celia Williamson is an American University of Toledo Distinguished Professor of Social Work and Executive Director of the Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute, as well as researcher and community advocate who seeks to combat domestic human trafficking and prostitution.
Williamson started her career as a social worker at a community center in north Toledo working with children and families.
She went on to win grants and bring funding to the Toledo community to provide program and services for sex trafficking victims.
[3] She also founded the Lucas County Human Trafficking Coalition, which includes local criminal justice, social service, and health care agencies, along with businesses, university members, churches, citizens, and adult survivors, and the FBI Innocence Lost Task Force.
[4] In 1993, Williamson founded Second Chance, an organization that develops individualized service plans for women and children survivors and victims in Toledo, Ohio.
[8] A 2002 study by Williamson entitled "Pimp-Controlled Prostitution" focused on understanding the traditional pimp-prostitute relationship through qualitative research.
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[11] In 2009, Second Chance, founded by Williamson, received the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award for its efforts.