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Dr. Harry L. Williams serves as President & CEO of Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the nation’s foremost organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. Leading TMCF, Dr. Williams oversees its 55 member schools, comprising America’s publicly supported Historically Black Colleges (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), collectively educating 80% of students attending HBCUs.
Dr. Williams has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to higher education. His illustrious career includes senior positions at the University of North Carolina General Administration, Appalachian State University, and North Carolina A&T State University.
Dr. Williams earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Appalachian State University and a Doctorate from East Tennessee State University. Named President Emeritus of Delaware State University, he is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Dr. Williams is a devoted family man. Married to Dr. Robin S. Williams, they take pride in their two accomplished sons, Austin, and Gavin.
Lisa Freeman serves as President of Northern Illinois University, where she champions social mobility, impactful research, and community engagement while fostering an inclusive learning environment.
A member of NIU’s senior leadership team since 2010, Dr. Freeman previously served as Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and Executive Vice President/Provost. Before joining NIU, she spent 16 years at Kansas State University in faculty and research administration roles.
Dr. Freeman earned degrees from Cornell University and The Ohio State University and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Rochester. In 2023, she was recognized by Women We Admire as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Education.
Susan R. Burns is the sixth president of the University of Mount Saint Vincent, where she champions the transformative power of the liberal arts and a strong commitment to access, equity, and student success. Since joining in 2021, she has led a period of strategic growth and innovation, including the University’s 2024 transition from college to university status, the launch of a new academic school structure, and the creation of Seton College—an associate degree program designed to support students with high academic need.
Under her leadership, the University has expanded academic offerings, strengthened partnerships across the Bronx community, and advanced initiatives in the arts and healthcare education, including the launch of a physician assistant master’s program. She has also overseen significant campus improvements and funding efforts while deepening the institution’s mission in partnership with the Sisters of Charity of New York.
A nationally recognized psychologist and educator, Dr. Burns is an accomplished scholar and author who remains active in mentoring student research and publication. She holds degrees from Emporia State University and Kansas State University and previously served in senior academic leadership roles at Clarke University and Morningside College.
Dr. Nancy Cantor is President of Hunter College, where she is leading a strategic vision centered on social mobility, public scholarship, and deep community partnership. A nationally recognized higher education leader, she champions universities as “anchor institutions” that drive racial equity and inclusive economic growth through cross-sector collaboration.
Previously, she served as Chancellor of Rutgers University–Newark (2014–2024), advancing initiatives in education, urban entrepreneurship, arts and culture, community health, and environmental science. She also led Syracuse University as Chancellor and President, earning the Carnegie Corporation Academic Leadership Award for her work in fostering impactful university-community partnerships.
A social psychologist by training, Dr. Cantor has held senior leadership roles at the University of Illinois, University of Michigan, and Princeton University. She is a prominent voice on diversity, equity, and public engagement in higher education, and a member of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine.
Her career reflects a sustained commitment to expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and reimagining the role of higher education in society.
