Amy Williams Named New Executive Director of NACEP
January 3, 2019
After a very competitive national search, the Board of Directors has hired Amy Williams of Bozeman, Montana as Executive Director of the leading national organization advancing quality college courses for high school students. Williams will assume the role February 1, 2019, and will provide strategic and operational management of the organization’s six-member staff and $1.2 million annual budget.
"I am pleased and excited to have Amy take on leadership of the organization. Her skills, abilities and experience are an outstanding fit for building on NACEP’s forward momentum and leading the organization into its next chapter,” said Patrick Cannon, the President of NACEP’s Board and Associate Director of Indiana University’s Advance College Project. “I look forward to working with her to achieve NACEP’s vision of a future where all high school students are prepared for, have access to, and succeed in quality college courses."
With more than 16 years combined experience in secondary and higher education, Williams brings a depth of experience that extends across the education spectrum. Her passion for students and transforming the systems that serve them have driven her to advance concurrent and dual enrollment in both Montana and national policy realms.
Amy's state and national experience makes her an outstanding choice to continue NACEP’s leadership in guiding the expansion of high quality concurrent and dual enrollment. An educator and policymaker and a strong presence in Montana and the national arena, she knows how to balance the needs of on-the-ground practitioners and the advocacy community.
Melinda Karp, founder of Phase Two Advisory
former Assistant Director of the Community College Research Center at Columbia University
Formerly a nationally recognized educator and STEM consultant, Williams has spent the past five years of her career working with state leadership to build and implement a new vision for dual enrollment in Montana. Montana’s dual enrollment vision resulted from Williams’ active engagement with NACEP as a member and as chair of NACEP’s State Policy Leadership Committee. Her leadership on dual enrollment completely transformed the interface between high school and higher education in the state.
“Amy is a force of nature, helping to double student participation in Montana's dual enrollment program over the past five years,” remarked Montana Governor Steve Bullock. “He continued by noting that she is passionate about the quality of dual enrollment courses and ensuring that students across the state, including in our rural schools, have access to these opportunities. I am grateful for her service to the state and know that she will continue to make a positive impact on students and the country as she takes the reins at NACEP.”
Williams will become NACEP’s second Executive Director with the planned departure of Adam Lowe. Lowe, who started as NACEP’s first employee in 2009, led the previously all-volunteer professional organization through a period of growth and transition during its second decade.
Under his leadership, NACEP has become recognized as the voice for the movement and NACEP's accreditation services are widely recognized as the standard for program quality by states, institutions, and professional organizations, with the number of accredited programs doubling to 107. During his tenure, NACEP expanded opportunities for members to grow as professionals through conferences, workshops, webinars, leadership opportunities, and its network of affiliated state and regional chapters. Adam will continue to support NACEP through the transition as a Strategic Advisor through the spring of 2019.
“Adam Lowe and NACEP have been integral to Montana’s dual enrollment accomplishments, state Williams. Adam will be greatly missed but leaves a legacy that will yield dividends for the organization far into the future. As NACEP enters its third decade, I look forward to building on that legacy and strengthening NACEP’s commitment to and support of practitioners, programs, and policy advancing high quality concurrent and dual enrollment courses for all students.”
About the Author
Miranda has her B.A. in Communication from NC State University and her M.S. in Sports Management from Drexel University. Prior to NACEP, Miranda spent time working for The Burlington School as their Director of Communications. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, coaching softball, and watching her nephews grow up. Fun fact, Miranda, and her twin sister Shaina were the first two recruits to sign a softball scholarship at NC State University and were inducted into the North Carolina Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame for their contributions and success in the game of softball.