Alfred M. Williams was born in Linn County, Oregon. He attended Santiam Academy in Lebanon, Oregon, and graduated cum laude from Albany College in 1896. After earning his undergraduate degree, Willliams attended Cumberland University (Tennessee), where he earned degrees in law and religion. Williams went on to serve as a Presbyterian minister in California, Oregon, and Washington. He also served as Education Secretary for the Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath School work. Williams was appointed to the Albany College Board of Trustees, on which he served from 1908 to 1916. He also worked as Albany's fundraising field agent from 1917 to 1919. When President Crooks left for Alma College in 1920, the Board of Trustees appointed Williams as President, based on his intimate knowledge of the Presbyterian community and of Albany's past fundraising efforts. As a practicing minister, Williams made it his top priority to establish a department of Bible and religious education. The also initiated a "self-help" program to allow students to pay for their education through work at Albany. Williams returned to the ministry in 1922.