Director of the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Office of Science Policy and Communications Career Focus: Joined NIAAA in 2007 as a Health Scientist Administrator in the Science Policy Branch (SPB), where she worked on a wide range of science policy topics.  The Office of Science Policy and Communications is responsible for science policy, planning, evaluation and reporting functions for NIAAA; and the preparation of briefing materials on alcohol research.  Additionally, the office coordinates all media relations, produces materials for scientific and lay audiences, and acts as the public face of the institute.  During her tenure in SPB, she served as NIAAA’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Coordinator as well as NIAAA lead on a number of other significant trans-NIH projects.  Prior to her recent appointment, Dr. Williams-Simmons served as Chief of SPB.