Matthew Wesley Williams has been named interim president of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The institution enrolls just under 300 students, 97 percent of whom are Black. Williams will transition into his new role on July 10, 2019.
Currently, Williams serves as vice president of strategic initiatives for the Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) in Decatur, Georgia. Throughout his tenure in this position, he has helped restructure FTE’s operations, expanded FTE’s ministry and doctoral initiatives, and established FTE’s Institutional Doctoral Network to teach and train theological executive leaders how to address systemic barriers to desirable change in their respective institutional context. Additionally, Williams is an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to return to my beloved alma mater to help facilitate the beginning of the next chapter of the Interdenominational Theological Center’s life and legacy,” stated Williams. “I am clear that our call is not to merely ‘save the ITC’ as we know it. This is the beginning of an effort to co-create the ITC our communities need. This is village work. I look forward to joining with ITC’s faculty, staff, students, alumni and allies to co- author this next chapter.”
Williams is a graduate of Florida A&M University where he earned two bachelor’s degrees in psychology and philosophy/religion. He holds a master of divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center.