Mark Spencer Williams

Williams is the managing member of Rice Law, PLLC. He provides legal services to clients on Title IV Federal Student Financial Aid issues, family law issues (i.e., child support and custody, divorce, alimony and support, equitable property distribution, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements), real property law (residential real estate deed preparation and closings), and civil litigation.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Williams was the Director of Financial Aid & Veterans Services (FAVSO) at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and President of the Center for Higher Education Support Services (CHESS), a consulting firm serving colleges and universities.

Mark has fourteen years experience in the administration of federal student financial aid programs and analysis of higher education research topics. He also has a broad range of experience in performance improvement consulting. His experience includes all activities related to the oversight and financial management of federal, state and institutional student aid funds including leveraging enrollment through financial aid awards, audits, reporting, and management. Williams has provided consulting services to more than 50 institutions of higher education including public, private, and community colleges.

Williams is one of three who conceptualized, obtained funding and created LearnStudentAid.org, a national training program for high school counselors and financial aid administrators funded with nearly $1M by FIPSE. The site provides training for more than 80,000 high school counselors and 8,000 financial aid administrators.

Williams has analyzed, designed, and managed computer system applications for various higher education activities. Before establishing CHESS, he provided management consulting services to institutions of higher education while working for KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, a "Big 5" accounting firm.

As a speaker, Williams provides training at national, regional, and state student aid conferences. Topics have have included Legal Issues in Federal Student Financial Aid administration, Title IV statutory and regulatory issues, staffing, higher education research, technology issues, and leadership in higher education.

Bar Admissions

North Carolina, 2005
District of Columbia, 2006
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, 2005

Education

J.D., cum laude, 2005
Campbell University, Buies Creek, N.C.

Ed.S., Leadership & Higher Education, Administration, 1994
Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C.

M.A., Leadership & Higher Education, Administration, 1991
Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C.

B.A., Philosophy & Religion; Minor, Business Management, 1990
Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C.