Laurie Williford

Laurie Williford currently serves as the Immigrant Visas Chief at the U.S. Department of State, a position held since August 2017, and has extensive experience in various roles including Non-Immigrant Visas Chief and Immigrant Visa Officer. Prior to current roles, Laurie worked as a Consular Adjudicator at the U.S. Consulate General and served as Deputy Fraud Prevention Manager at the Portuguese Flagship Program at the University of Georgia. Laurie's early career includes significant contributions to bilateral relationships with Australia and PNG, as well as work on women’s issues as a Pickering Fellow. Education includes a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from The University of Georgia, a Master of Arts in East Asian Studies from Duke University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese Language and Literature from The University of Georgia. Additionally, Laurie has teaching experience in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program.