Montgomery College To Hold Inauguration of Dr. Jermaine F. Williams as College President on Oct. 19

Dr. Williams’ work in higher education has focused his energies on improving access for students, as well as retention, graduation, and post-completion success. He has paid special attention to mitigating institutional, societal, and racial inequities, strategically creating programs and policies that support historically underrepresented and/or marginalized groups. He has years of experience designing, managing, and enhancing institutional and statewide programs and initiatives that have yielded positive student outcomes.

The inaugural ceremony on October 19 will include:

• The national anthem sung by Ms. Paulette Mathis, a Montgomery College student in the Performing Arts Department, and additional performances by other students;

• Welcome and introductions by Inauguration Planning Committee Honorary Co-Chairs: the Honorable Michael J. Knapp, immediate past Chair of the Montgomery College Board of Trustees; Ms. Dana Pauley, president and CEO of Leadership Montgomery; and Ms. Richa D’Mello, student at Montgomery College;
• Land acknowledgement and video by Sharon R. Wilder, Esq. Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at Montgomery College, and Mr. Rico Newman Elder of Choptico Band of Piscataway-Conoy Indians;
• A video presentation, “What MC Means to Me”;
• Greetings from the U.S. Senator for Maryland Christopher Van Hollen Jr., and U.S. Representative, Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, Jamin B. “Jamie” Raskin. Other speakers will be Maryland State Senator Benjamin F. Kramer, Montgomery County Executive Marc B. Elrich, and Montgomery County Council President Gabriel L. Albornoz.
• Presentation of honorary degrees to Dr. Charlene Dukes, interim president emerita, Montgomery College and president emerita, Prince George’s Community College; J. Stephen McAuliffe III, Esq., principal at Miles & Stockbridge and chair of the Montgomery College Foundation board of directors; Ms. Mirna “Lupi” Quinteros-Grady, president and CEO of Latin American Youth Center; and Mr. Clifford White and Mrs. Deborah White, philanthropists.

Dr. Williams has been widely lauded for his inclusive leadership style and for building teams that create strategic programming and policies to improve student outcomes. His professional approach to student success is deeply rooted in equity-minded systems and data-informed analysis. Dr. Williams’ view of higher education as a public good informs his personal passion about enhancing access, completion, and post-completion success, goals that are shared across Montgomery College.

Online viewing of the inauguration can be found at the College’s inauguration webpage.

The College is also hosting pre-inaugural celebrations at all three Montgomery College campuses beginning today, October 11 at the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus. See below for the schedule and activities.

Tuesday, October 11: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus

11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Event flyer (PDF, )  (PDF, )

Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus (map); Courtyard between Cafritz Foundation Arts Center and Health Sciences

7600 Takoma Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland 20912

Wednesday, October 12: Germantown Campus

10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Event flyer (PDF, )  (PDF, )

Germantown Campus (map)
20200 Observation Drive, Germantown, Maryland 20876

10:30–11:30 a.m. – Signature Program: Biotechnology – BE Atrium. Biotechnology Faculty/CBS Dean. Students will get a chance to “gown up” and try their hand at pipetting.

11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. – Food, Fun, & Games – BE 151/152

1:30–2:30 p.m. – Signature Program: Cybersecurity – Cyberlab – HT 230; Eduardo Noboa and Alla Webb; Guests can participate in a scavenger hunt to learn about cybersecurity. Those who finish, will get a prize.

Thursday, October 13: Rockville Campus

10 a.m.–1 p.m. Event flyer (PDF, )  (PDF, )
Rockville Campus (campus map) (events map (PDF, )  (PDF, )
51 Mannakee Street, Rockville, Maryland 20850

10 a.m. – Mobile Market begins. There will also be numerous tables to visit in the SV atrium. You can even get a blood pressure screening while you are there.

Noon – Lunch from the Rolling Raptor food truck. Hospitality Management and Macklin Business Institute students will prepare and serve a delicious lunch from our new Rolling Raptor food truck, and will also serve cookies and coffee from the MBI Café located in the SV atrium.

1 p.m. – Anti-Racism training, SV 104A (access room through the Student Life office). This is a required training for MC employees to promote social justice, radical inclusion, and racial equity within the College and community. Please register through Workday to attend this training session. Register