A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT GIBBS
Dear Members of the MCNY Community,
It is my pleasure to share that Dr. Emily A. Williams has joined Metropolitan College of New York as our new Executive Vice President and Provost, effective July 20, 2026.
Dr. Williams brings an exceptional record of academic leadership, faculty engagement, accreditation expertise, and institutional advancement, earned through decades of service at colleges and universities across the country. She joins MCNY at an important time as we continue to strengthen our academic programs, expand opportunities for our scholars, and advance our distinctive model of Purpose-Centered Education.
As our chief academic officer, Dr. Williams will provide leadership for our three schools: Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education, The School for Business, and The School for Public Affairs and Administration, while working closely with faculty, staff, students, and academic administrators to advance excellence in teaching, learning, scholarship, and student success. I am confident that her experience, sound judgment, and commitment to higher education will serve our College well as we continue to shape its future.
Metropolitan College of New York is on the cusp of a new era in its academic journey. It is a journey filled with political, economic, and social challenges, but also equally rich opportunities. An academic leader capable of meeting these challenges with dexterity, fitness, and strength is an imperative. I believe that Dr. Williams is the person to meet these challenges at this moment and for this time.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Williams to the MCNY family. I know she will be met with the same generosity, professionalism, and sense of community that defines this College. Thank you in advance for extending the warm welcome that makes Metropolitan College of New York such a special place to learn, to teach, and to serve.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Metropolitan College of New York Names Dr. Emily A. Williams Executive Vice President and Provost
July 15, 2026 – BRONX, N.Y. – Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) today announced the appointment of Dr. Emily A. Williams as Executive Vice President and Provost, effective July 20, 2026.
After a nationwide search led by Vice President for Academic Affairs Humprey A. Crookendale, J.D., Metropolitan College of New York has appointed Dr. Emily A. Williams to provide strategic oversight for academic programs, faculty, accreditation, assessment, curriculum, and institutional effectiveness. Dr. Williams will support the leadership in the Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education, the School for Business, and the School for Public Affairs and Administration while guiding the continued advancement of Purpose-Centered Education.
“At every successful college, academic leadership shapes the quality of the student experience and the strength of the institution,” said Dr. Charles J. Gibbs, President of Metropolitan College of New York. “Dr. Williams has spent her career building strong academic programs, supporting faculty, strengthening institutional quality, and expanding opportunities for students. She understands that academic excellence, shared governance and student success go hand in hand. As Metropolitan College of New York continues to grow, her leadership will help us strengthen our academic foundation while preparing the College for the opportunities ahead. I am pleased to welcome Dr. Williams to MCNY and look forward to the perspective and experience she will bring to our community.”
Dr. Williams has served in several senior academic leadership positions within higher education to include Delaware State University, where she served as Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Tenured Full Professor, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Ramapo College of New Jersey, the University of the Virgin Islands, Texas Southern University, Paine College, and Savannah College of Art and Design.
Dr. Williams brings extensive accreditation experience as she has served as a Team Chair and Peer Reviewer for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s Committee on Recognition, and Accreditation Liaison Officer at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Those experiences position her well to support MCNY’s continued commitment to academic excellence and institutional effectiveness.
Dr. Williams earned a Ph.D. from Clark Atlanta University, a Master of Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Paul’s College. She also completed executive leadership programs at Harvard University and the Association of College Unions International Women’s Leadership Institute.
For Dr. Williams, the appointment also represents a return to her Bronx roots.
“Higher education has the responsibility to prepare students not only for careers, but for lives of leadership, service, and continued learning,” said Dr. Emily A. Williams. “What drew me to Metropolitan College of New York is the clear connection between its mission and its practice. Purpose-Centered Education asks students to apply what they learn to the work they do and to the communities they serve. That philosophy reflects my own approach to education and academic leadership. Returning to my Bronx roots to join this community is both a privilege and a responsibility, and I look forward to working with President Gibbs, our faculty, staff, and scholars as we continue to build on MCNY’s long tradition of expanding opportunity through higher education.”
Dr. Williams succeeds Vice President for Academic Affairs Humphrey A. Crookendale, J.D., who is retiring from his administrative leadership role after more than 40 years of service to Metropolitan College of New York.
“I have had the distinct honor and privilege of serving under every president and administration in the College’s history. That experience has given me a deep appreciation for the exceptional institution that is Metropolitan College of New York, as well as a unique perspective on both the challenges we have faced and the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead,” said Vice President Humphrey A. Crookendale, J.D., “I am confident that, under the leadership of Dr. Emily A. Williams and her stewardship of academic affairs, those challenges will be met with thoughtful solutions and those opportunities fully realized. With the depth of experience, vision, and expertise she brings to MCNY, I believe the future of our College is in sound and capable hands.”
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About Metropolitan College of New York
Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) is a private, nonprofit institution of higher education that provides Purpose-Centered Education, integrating academic study with professional application and empowering students to turn learning into immediate impact in their careers and communities. Founded by Audrey Cohen in 1964 and now serving adult learners for over 60 years, MCNY offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, certificate, and workforce development programs, including bachelor’s degrees that can be completed in under three years and one-year graduate programs designed for working professionals.
The College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is designated as a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI), Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), and Minority-Serving Institution (MSI). MCNY’s three schools, the Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education, the School for Business, and the School for Public Affairs and Administration, prepare graduates for career advancement and leadership in high-demand fields.
Metropolitan College of New York is located at 463 East 149th Street, Bronx, New York 10455. For more information, visit www.mcny.edu or call 212-343-1234.
Media Contact
Tina Georgiou, Director of Communications, Metropolitan College of New York
212-343-1234 ext. 2626 or tgeorgiou@mcny.edu
