Washington, DC (January 26, 2016) – The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) has appointed Delaware State University (DSU) President Harry Lee Williams to its Board of Directors, announced Jim Clifton, TMCF Board Chairman and President of Gallup.
Dr. Williams is the tenth president of DSU, one of America’s oldest Land-Grant Institutions and the state of Delaware’s only Historically Black College or University (HBCU). He was appointed president in 2010, after serving a year and a half as provost and vice president of Academic Affairs.
“Bringing Dr. Williams’ voice to the board was a natural choice,” said Clifton. “He has been a long-time partner as the leader of one of TMCF’s most successful member-schools.”
A 28-year higher education administrator, Dr. Williams served at the University of North Carolina as interim associate vice president for Academic Affairs and interim senior associate vice president for Academic and Student Affairs. He has previously served in leadership posts at his alma mater Appalachian State University and TMCF member-school North Carolina A&T University. Dr. Williams also has experience in the private sector as a national marketing and recruitment associate consultant with Noel-Levitz, where he advised 14 colleges and universities on enrollment and management solutions.
“Serving on the board of TMCF will give me an opportunity to help other HBCUs by sharing some of the innovative strategies we are implementing at DSU to retain and graduate our students,” said Dr. Williams. “It’s a tremendous honor to serve on this esteemed board.”
Dr. Williams earned his B.S. in Communication Broadcasting and M.A. in Educational Media from Appalachian State University, later earning an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from East Tennessee State University. A lifelong athlete, Dr. Williams competed in track and cross-country at Appalachian State University and still actively runs four miles five days a week.
“A quick glance at DSU’s growing partnerships with Delaware government, major non-profit foundations, and international universities shows the kind of change agent Dr. Williams is,” said TMCF President and CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. “TMCF is lucky to be able to leverage Harry’s talents on behalf of all publicly-supported HBCUs.”
ABOUT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND (TMCF)
TMCF is named for the U.S. Supreme Court’s first African-American Justice. Established in 1987, TMCF supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending its 47 member-schools that include publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), medical schools and law schools. Through its scholarships and programs, TMCF plays a key role in preparing the leaders of tomorrow. For more information on TMCF, visit tmcf.org.
