I shall never forget President Emeritus Carolyn Grubbs Williams. A diminutive person with outsized stature and the spirit of a tiger, her eyes were clear and expressive, her smile genuine and naturally exhibiting grace and charm. I recall times we shared great joy as major advances in meeting critical needs under her leadership were successfully achieved for long sought capital improvements.

I witnessed first-hand the multifaceted advancements her leadership delivered and how she persuasively communicated the urgency of meeting critical needs of the college as BCC entered the 21st Century. To say she will be missed is a vast understatement.

President Williams’ legacy reached lives throughout the world. She broke glass ceilings, struck pioneering paths and promoted diversity and inclusion in higher education. BCC’s own treasure, her impact was national and global, her contributions showed a bigger-than-life presence benefiting our college. Fiercely determined, President Williams possessed a collegial spirit of goodwill, leading during a critical juncture as BCC implemented infrastructures to integrate new technology in teaching, learning and research. President Emeritus Carolyn Williams left an indelible mark of her life in the legacy she leaves behind.

The official BCC and CUNY Plaque installed in the great room entrance to BCC Library designates it as the “Carolyn Grubbs Williams Reading Room,” tangible testimony to her historic achievements. President Williams was instrumental in building essential infrastructure with NYS and NYC funding to meet urgent needs. Bronx Community College is the Gateway to Success, she often said.

Heartfelt loss in her passing is felt far beyond her beloved family members, we celebrate her life, her accomplishments will be remembered.