Jermaine Williams, a vice president of a community college in Massachusetts, has been named the new leader of Nassau Community College.
The State University of New York confirmed Wednesday that Williams will resume leadership of NCC, the state’s largest single-campus two-year school boasting more than 23,000 students on its 225-acre East Garden City campus, beginning July 1.
“Nassau Community College has a long-standing history of academic excellence and career preparation for diverse learners, which Dr. Williams will support and uplift,” said SUNY Board Chairman H. Carl McCall. “His work to increase equity in education and create a welcoming and inclusive environment will serve Nassau well.”
Williams will replaces W. Hubert Keen, who was appointed NCC’s first permanent president in 2016 following a string of interim presidents after Keen’s predecessor, Donald Astrab, resigned in 2012 following a contentious two-year stint that included two votes of no confidence from college faculty. Williams will be the 7th president in NCC history.
He has served as vice president for student affairs at North Shore Community College for the last four years. He previously held roles of increasing responsibility at Northeastern Illinois University, worked as a director of student initiatives at the Community College of Philadelphia, coordinator of first-year student programs and academic advisor at Temple University, and assistant to the director of the university freshman center and assistant coordinator of self-pace program at St. John’s University.
Williams holds a doctorate and master’s in education from Temple University, a master’s in sociology from St. John’s University, a bachelor’s from Lafayette College, as well as a certificate from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education’s management development program.
“Williams brings to the campus community a wide variety of experiences and skillsets, and his emphasis on supporting underrepresented students and groups will resound well with our students,” said Jorge Gardyn, chair of the NCC Board of Trustees. “Williams’ appointment represents a new and exciting chapter in the ever-evolving history of our college.”
