The First African American President of Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland

The board of trustees of Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland, appointed Daria Willis as the fifth president of the college. When she takes office on January 10, Dr. Willis will become the first African American to lead the college in its 51-year history.

Howard Community College enrolls more than 9,500 students, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Education. African Americans make up 27 percent of the student body.

“My educational philosophy has always been to focus on students and put them at the heart of everything you do, so I am incredibly honored to lead a college whose mission is providing pathways to success,” said Dr. Willis. “Community colleges are in the business of transforming lives of students and their families. As the next president, I commit to empowering the college and the Howard County community, inspiring innovation, closing the achievement gap among students, and advocating for social justice, equity, and education for all.”

Dr. Willis currently serves as president of Everett Community College in Washington. Earlier, Dr. Willis was the provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at Onondaga Community College of the State University of New York and dean of academic studies at Lee College in Baytown, Texas.

Dr. Willis holds a bachelor’s degree in history education and a master’s degree in history from Florida A&M University. She earned a Ph.D. in history at Florida State University.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: Nikki Giovanni, 1943-2024

Nikki Giovanni was a professor at Virginia Tech for 35 years. She was the author of numerous poetry collections, children's books, and works of nonfiction.

Kentucky State University Creates a New Pathway to Bachelor’s Degrees for Local Nurses

Kentucky State University has created a new RN-to-BSN pathway for students who have graduated from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College's nursing program. The program will provide eligible students with a tuition-free college education.

In Memoriam: Whittington Johnson, 1931-2024

In 1970, Dr. Johnson made history as the first Black tenured professor to be hired by the University of Miami, where he taught for the next three decades.

Featured Jobs