AUSTIN, Texas — A national search for the next president of Huston-Tillotson University has come to a close as its Board of Trustees choose Dr. Melva K. Williams to assume the role. Williams makes for the seventh president in succession.

Out of about 50 applicants, Dr. Williams withstood two rounds of finalists, replacing Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette given her retirement.

Williams earned a doctorate in higher education from Jackson State University in Mississippi, a master’s in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Grambling State University in Louisiana.

“Dr. Williams’ reputation as a visionary leader, utilizing creative approaches to advancing higher education through layers of innovative improvements will position Huston-Tillotson University for the economic and technological advances shaping the Central Texas market,” said HT Chair of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Carol McDonald.      

With time spent in Louisiana, her academic career at the Southern University System spans from executive associate to the chancellor, assistant vice chancellor and vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management at SU-Shreveport, vice chancellor at SU-New Orleans and System chief of staff.

Also, as a former associate dean of College at Centenary College of Louisiana, Williams simultaneously held roles as a professor, lecturer and board member at several colleges and universities.

Her most recent academic stint was as the senior director of programming for the Clinton Presidential Center. Plus, she’s the co-founder of the Higher Education Leadership Foundation (H.E.L.F.), a founding board member and board president for Magnolia School of Excellence and is a national spokesperson for emotional intelligence (soft skills) development.

“I am honored and energized to serve as HT’s second female president,” Williams said. “The trust of the Board of Trustees and the HT Presidential Search Committee is very much appreciated, and I look forward to advancing an aggressive agenda that will ensure HT’s continued success.”