RETIRED CUNY ASSOCIATE DEAN OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Cheryl N. Williams holds a B.A. in Political Science from the State University of New York at

Albany and an M.S. in Education and Reading from Hunter College. She credits the SUNY Albany EOP (Educational Opportunity Program) counselors for her commitment to opportunity programs. In addition to the social and emotional support that were instrumental in keeping her enrolled at SUNY, EOP funded a study abroad program that was the most impactful experience of her college years.

Williams began her higher education career at Medgar Evers College, where she worked for over twenty years holding several faculty and administrative positions, including: Humanities faculty, ESL Coordinator, Executive Assistant to the Dean of Academic Affairs, Grants Officer, and SEEK Director. She taught in Japan as a founding faculty member of CUNY Hiroshima and served on numerous University committees that recommended policy on English as a Second Language and developmental English.

Williams worked briefly at York College as SEEK Director before moving to the CUNY Central Office in 2003 as the Assistant Dean of Special Programs. In her role, she focused on establishing standard policies and procedures across SEEK and CD programs, developing evidence-based practices and outcomes assessments, increasing intercampus opportunities for students, and fostering collaboration among opportunity program professionals.  When she retired in July 2017 her portfolio had expanded to include oversight of several University programs:  Percy E. Sutton SEEK and College Discovery (CD); Youth Matter, a NYS funded support program for students who’d been in the foster care system; Federal TriO programs; and Single Stop, a Robin Hood Foundation spinoff that connects low income students with public financial resources.

As a systems administrator, Williams regularly presented at national conferences and was principal investigator on several US Department of Education grants. The most notable was titled College Discovery Scholars. The practices significantly enhanced academic outcomes and were adopted beyond the target population. She established the inter-campus Student Leadership Academy (SLA), an annual retreat where SEEK/CD students receive soft skills training and develop projects to enhance program outcomes. Williams secured grant funds to start the United Leaders of CUNY, an inter-campus SEEK/CD student organization whose mission is to advocate on behalf of the Programs and increase students’ career and personal development.  She oversaw CUNY’s Dominican Scholarship Exchange Program for nationally selected honors students from the Dominican Republic and led the first CUNY Council of TRiO Directors.

Williams has been recognized for her work in support of low-income, first-generation populations. She received several awards, including:  2007 CUNY International Students Advisors Council Outstanding Support; 2014 Arturo Schomburg award from AEEE (Association for Equality and Excellence in Education); Advocate of Distinction medal, 2017 AEEE, and a 2017 Tri-State Excellence and Distinguished Service award.