COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University’s law dean has accepted the presidency of the City College of the City University of New York (CUNY), one of the nation's leading urban public universities, effective Aug.1.

Gregory H. Williams, dean of the College of Law since 1993, will become CUNY’s 11th president. Nearly 200,000 degree-credit students and 155,00 adult and continuing education students are enrolled in the university’s 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, a graduate school, a law school and a medical school. Courses are taught throughout New York’s five boroughs.

“I have enjoyed my time at Ohio State,” said Williams. “But the opportunities at City College are very exciting.”

Ohio State President William E. Kirwan praised Williams’ leadership of the law school. “During Greg Williams’ tenure as dean, our law school has advanced steadily in national rankings and has completed a highly successful capital campaign. We are grateful for his outstanding stewardship, and for leaving the law school poised to enter America’s top ranks,” Kirwan said. “We will miss him greatly, but we wish him well in this challenging new position.”

Executive Vice President and Provost Edward J. Ray agreed. “It has been a great pleasure to work closely with Greg during the last eight years. He assumed the leadership position at a time when the college was faced with a substantial deficit and the need to develop a strategic plan for the future. With the help of his colleagues, he made exceptional new hires, managed the debt, crafted a strategic plan and successfully launched an effort to move the college to the front ranks of colleges of law in America. CCNY is fortunate to have recruited him to its presidency.”

Williams joined the College of Law in 1993 as dean. He was named the Carter C. Kissell Professor of Law and Political Science in 1999. Before coming to Ohio State, he served as associate vice president of Academic Affairs at the University of Iowa, overseeing programs in international programs, minority affairs, student retention, and academic discipline. He had been a faculty member at Iowa State’s College of Law since 1977. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University, Muncie, Ind., an M.A. degree from the University of Maryland, and Ph.D., M.Phil. and J.D. degrees from George Washington University.

Widely regarded in the area of criminal law and race relations, Williams also wrote an autobiography, Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He was Black, which won the 1995 Los Angeles Times Book Award.

Williams served as president of the Association of American Law Schools in 1999. The same year, the National Association for Public Interest Law named him Law Dean of the Year and at the request of President Bill Clinton, he spoke at the White House on race in academia, law, and society. He also was the first recipient of the National Bar Association’s A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Award, which recognizes a commitment to civil rights.

At Ohio State, Williams was instrumental in raising more than $25 million to increase student scholarships and faculty endowment. He has also worked to enhance opportunities for students. The Program in Alternative Dispute Resolution was ranked first in the nation during his tenure, and clinics in Justice for Children, Legislation, and Student Housing were formed to provide practice experience for students.

Under his leadership, 40 percent of the current faculty was hired and faculty scholarship has thrived. The faculty has collectively published numerous books, book chapters, and articles in law reviews, and are increasingly cited in top journals such as the Harvard Law Review, Michigan Law Review, and Duke Law Journal.

Ohio State will begin a national search to replace Williams.

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(LO)