1996-97
SERVICELifeguard, Chicago Park District
He worked as a Chicago Park District lifeguard during high school, learning responsibility and service early.
01 / Journey
A lifetime of service. A future worth investing in.
“Planting trees in which you will never sit under the shade.”
From protecting lives to creating opportunity, eli’s journey shows how opportunity, service, philanthropy, and art can strengthen disinvested communities around the world.
Explore the work that makes him… human.
His Journey — A Timeline
1998–2002
educationAttended Luther College
He attended Luther College from 1998 to 2002, graduating with a major in Communication/Linguistics and a minor in Africana Studies.
1999
SERVICEJoins the U.S. Army Reserve
He joined the Army Reserve in 1999 as a Combat Engineer.
2001
SERVICEGreat Northern fire crew, Missoula
While serving in the Army Reserve and completing college, he worked with the Great Northern fire crew in Missoula, Montana, during the summer.
2002
SERVICEBitterroot National Forest Engine Crew
A second season of wildland firefighting took him to the West Fork Fire District in the Bitterroot National Forest.
2003
SERVICEJoined U.S. Army Special Operations
After college, he joined the active-duty U.S. Army as a Psychological Operations Specialist and Arabic Linguist at the 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) under the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC).
2004
SERVICEDeployment to Iraq
He deployed to Iraq supporting the 2nd Infantry Division, special operations units, and other governmental agencies as a tactical PSYOP assistant team leader.
2007
SERVICEDeployment to Afghanistan
He subsequently deployed to Afghanistan with the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) supporting Tier 1 units as a tactical PSYOP team chief.
2008
nonprofitCofounded Leave No Veteran Behind
williamson and Roy Brown Sartin establish Leave No Veteran Behind, which "invests in veterans to build better communities" through education and employment services.
2012
philanthropyJoins the McCormick Foundation
After achieving success with his nonprofit, he was appointed director of the Veterans Program at the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, where he led its place-based and national investment strategy for veterans.
McCormick Foundation / PR Newswire
2017
communityJoined the board of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce
He supported the creation of the South Shore Quality-of-Life Plan.
2023
educationDoctor of Humanities, honoris causa
He received his Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (2023).
Watch the commencement video2023-2026
creativeThe Four Virtues Exhibition: FatherHood, Work, Wonder, and Fellowship
The Four Virtues Exhibition was eli's first photography exhibit. This exhibit was hosted at the Evanston Art Center for four years from 2023 through 2026, covering each virtue.
Evanston Art Center · announcement
2024
philanthropySelected as a judge for MacArthur Foundation’s 100&Change
Selected as a judge for the MacArthur Foundation's 100&Change. This competition uses an external evaluation body known as the Wise Head Panel—comprising over 230 independent evaluators, academics, nonprofit leaders, and sector experts—to score and review top-ranking proposals.
100&Change 2024 · judge profile2025
educationGraduated from ICP’s documentary practice program
eli williamson was a 2025 graduate of the International Center of Photography’s Online One-Year Certificate in Documentary Practice: Visual Storytelling.
ICP · Visual Cortex announcement on LinkedIn