Dr. Withers is the Grant L. Price Department Chair, assistant professor of public relations, and assistant director of the Institute for Leadership Education. He holds a B.A. Degree in communications from Winona State University ('82) and a M.S. degree in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State University ('89). He completed his doctoral degree at Drake University ('00).

His professional background includes many years of media management, public relations, consultation and media ownership. Bill served on the board of governors for Leadership Iowa for many years and has over two decades of management and leadership experience in both business and education. His research has been presented at the International Conference on Business in Honolulu, Hawaii, and he has both studied and served organizations such as Proctor & Gamble, Ritz-Carlton, Disney, Hy-Vee, and Starbucks.

Closer to home, Dr. Withers is the recipient of both the Chellevold Award for Teaching Excellence and Advisor of the Year award. He specializes in the areas of public relations, quality customer service, organizational change, and leadership and is a frequent speaker and consultant outside of Wartburg.

His family includes his wife Linda, and their son and daughter, Andrew and Emma. They reside in Waverly, Iowa.