[1][2] As of January 2020[update], Williams is the deputy head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) for political affairs.

[3] After studying in her home country of the United States, Williams obtained a degree in economics and government relations in 1987 at the University of Maryland, College Park, a master's degree in Arab Studies in 1989 at the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies at Georgetown University, and a master's degree in national security in 2008 from the National War College.

[6][3] Middle East Monitor interpreted Williams' appointment as symbolising a "reshuffling of the cards", a strengthening of the US interest in Libya, in the context of French, UK, Italian and US interests in Libya.

[9] In late 2020, as effective head of UNSMIL, Williams oversaw the continuation of the economic, military and political tracks of intra-Libyan peace negotiations.

[10] Williams' mediation of the peace process included wide consultations, including meetings with Libyan mayors from the West, South and East of Libya as part of the LPDF process, scheduled to hold its first face-to-face meeting in Tunisia in early November 2020.