A new president of Montgomery College will be announced Friday afternoon, school officials said.

Williams has 20 years of experience in higher education and he is the president of Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York.

“Dr. Williams’ work in higher education has focused his energies on improving access for students, as well as retention and graduation,” said Michael J. Knapp, the chair of the College’s Board of Trustees.

“He has paid special attention to mitigating social inequities for historically underrepresented people. His impressive track record of leadership and achievement drew the Board to him as a leader who would fit the needs of the College in this critical moment.”

Williams has focused on improving retention and graduation rates and mitigating social inequalities for minorities, according to a press release.

“The heart of any organization is unequivocally its people. Institutions don’t drive themselves,” Williams said. “It’s the people who build them and nurture them. And I can see that Montgomery College has been fortified by people who believe that care, compassion, and equity are the hallmarks for addressing unmet student needs.”

Charlene Mickens Dukes has been serving as the college’s interim president since the announcement earlier this year that former president DeRionne Pollard was stepping down to take up the role at Nevada State College.

Dukes will stay on during the transition and Williams will officially become president in the first quarter of 2022.

The announcement was made 1 p.m. in the Theatre Arts Arena on the Rockville Campus.

WTOP’s Jessica Kronzer contributed to this report.