The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) in Ann Arbor has named Jeritt Williams, assistant professor of engineering technology at Illinois State University, the recipient of the 2025 A3 Educator of the Year Award. Williams was selected for the award due to his focus on hands-on learning and the support he provides for his students.
Williams leads Illinois State’s Caterpillar Integrated Manufacturing Laboratory, which serves as an Industry 4.0 model with industrial robots and cobots, machine visions systems, conveyors, production and digital twin capabilities and more.
“Being named the 2025 A3 Educator of the Year is a truly meaningful distinction for me,” Williams says. “It serves as both a much-appreciated acknowledgment that educators who embrace hands-on, authentic practices are valued and respected, and it celebrates an important point of achievement in a longer journey that would not have been possible without the many incredible educators, mentors, students and friends who have inspired, encouraged, supported and challenged me along the way. I strive to give back and pay it forward for the next generation. My deepest gratitude to the Association for Advancing Automation for this great honor.”
The A3 Educator of the Year Award is sponsored by Siemens and seeks to honor individuals who have demonstrated dedication to shaping the next generation of professionals in automation through teaching. It recognizes secondary and postsecondary educators who demonstrate innovation in teaching methods, commitment to personal and professional growth, the ability to motivate and inspire students and a mastery of their subject matter.
Williams began his career in manufacturing and logistics, where he programmed CNC machines with robot loading systems. He eventually moved into industrial training and became a high school shop teacher. He taught pre-engineering classes at the middle school and high school levels, covering automation and robotics, energy and power systems, advanced manufacturing and engineering design before joining Illinois State University full-time. There, he teaches courses in mechatronics fundamentals, programmable logic controllers, industrial robotics and manufacturing systems integration.
As the A3 Educator of the Year, Williams and Illinois State University will receive a cash prize from the Siemens Cooperates with Education (SCE) program as well as a hardware and software technology bundle to expand Williams’ efforts to provide students with practical technical skills. The SCE program also will award Williams and the top five educators nominated with a technology bundle of Siemens software valued at over $250,000 each to promote automation in education and continue elevating the skills of tomorrow’s workforce in the U.S. Williams will be presented with the award on May 14 as part of the 2025 Automate Show’s Educator Day.
 in Ann Arbor has named Jeritt Williams, assistant professor of engineering technology at Illinois State University, the recipient of the 2025 A3 Educator of the Year Award.){kind=link}