Dr. Darlene Williams, BMCC Alumna and CEO of Union Settlement, Shares Life Lessons and Career Advice

Among the illustrious alumni of Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) is Dr. Darlene Williams, who has served as President and CEO of Union Settlement and co-chair of the East Harlem Community Alliance since 2023. This fall, she joins BMCC as an adjunct faculty member, teaching Introduction to Business in the Business Management department.

Dr. Williams’ career spans leadership roles including having served as President and CEO at Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow, and having taught as an adjunct faculty member in the School of Health Professions at Long Island University. She graduated from BMCC with an Associate in Liberal Arts degree in 1994, having chosen BMCC, she says, because of the affordability and flexible course schedules.

“While I was a student, I worked full-time at Salvation Army as a Manager in the Homefinding department for therapeutic foster boarding homes,” says Dr. Williams, who gained as many as 21 credits in a semester at BMCC, in her drive to graduate on time.

“I was a single parent, and my daughter was about five years old. I’m grateful to BMCC for being a pillar in my life when I needed it as a young woman with a child having to go to school at night and weekends and working during the day. BMCC helped me be able to do that.”

A career in service starts at home

In a recent interview in New York Nonprofit Media (NYNMedia) Dr. Williams talks about the impact of her family, on her values and the priority she places on giving back to her community.

Dr. Williams’ father, the oldest of 14 children in Alabama, moved to New York after graduating from high school. Her mother also grew up on a farm in Alabama, and shared food grown on their land with those in need. Both of Dr. Williams’ parents continued helping others when they arrived in New York City, serving in the ministry at their church and providing food, clothing, kinship and more.

Their example, says Dr. Williams, “embedded in me the mission and importance of service, which I think is what led me to not working in the for-profit field. I went straight into the non-for-profit field and city government.”

The East Harlem Community Alliance, of which Dr. Williams serves as Co-Chair, and Union Settlement are among the largest service providers in East Harlem, providing adult education, childcare, youth development, mental health services and more to more than 15,000 people a year.

“Keep your confidence and stick to your passion”

Dr. Williams has experienced first-hand, the life-changing impact of gaining an education, at any point in one’s life.

She spent a year at St. John’s University, majoring in Liberal Arts, before she enrolled at BMCC. After graduating from BMCC, she attended Metropolitan College of New York (which was then known as Audrey Cohen College) and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services. She next earned a Master’s degree at Metropolitan College in Public Policy and Administration, and then completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration at Walden University.

From an alumna’s point of view, Dr. Williams has seen BMCC’s offerings grown from a couple dozen degree programs when she was a student, to more than 60 today.

“Among other new programs, I’m happy that BMCC has put together its Public and Nonprofit Administration program,” says Dr. Williams. “My years in nonprofit leadership have been instrumental to where I am now, enabling me to come back to one of most economically challenged neighborhoods in New York City and be able to serve it. I’m excited to join the BMCC this Fall as an adjunct faculty member and to give back to another institution of higher education that helped me along the way.”

With the Fall 2024 semester about to start, Dr. Williams has advice to BMCC’s new and returning students.

“Keep your confidence and stick to what your passion and dream is, no matter what anyone tells you,” she says.

“I’m a product of that philosophy. I was able to excel in my career and education with a lot of hard work and determination. People told me I couldn’t do it—employers in the business world and others—but I didn’t listen to them, and neither should you.”