Tonjua Williams, Ph.D., became St. Petersburg College’s seventh president on July 3, 2017. A St. Petersburg native, Dr. Williams began her tenure with the college in 1986, rising through the ranks in a variety of academic and administrative roles.

Dr. Williams is committed to higher education leadership and being a part of initiatives to improve systems, create innovative policies, close the achievement gaps, the improves the lives of students and employees. Enhancing economic mobility is her passion and she believes this is accomplished through the creation of systems that intersect and work to move the student along the pathway to success. This is accomplished through the student experience – from pre-admission to enrollment and learning through graduation, transfer, or employment.

She is a graduate of the inaugural class of the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence, The Thomas Lakin Institute, Leadership St. Petersburg, Leadership Tampa Bay, the Chancellor’s Leadership Program, and the Executive Leadership Program at the University of Florida. She is currently a member of Leadership Florida, class 39.

She is a member of several boards: The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), The Southern Association of Colleges with Associate Degrees (SACAD), Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Presidential Advisory Board, Florida Holocaust Museum Board, Legislative Policy and Advocacy Chair for the Florida Council of Presidents, The Florida Council 100, and the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership Executive Board.

Dr. Williams earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Barry University, a master’s degree in Counselor Education from University of South Florida, and bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Humanities from Clearwater Christian College.