Student Success Meets Institutional Strategy as Morgan State Strengthens Its Student Affairs Leadership With New Appointment

Veteran Higher Education Leader Tapped to Advance Student Well-Being, Academic Success and Institutional Momentum

BALTIMORE — Morgan State University has strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointment of a widely recognized student affairs leader whose vision aligns with the institution’s accelerating growth, deepening commitment to student success and expanding national profile.

Following a comprehensive national search, University President David K. Wilson has named Letitia Williams, Ph.D., as vice president for the Division of Student Affairs, elevating a leader who has already helped shape the student experience at Morgan during a period of historic momentum.

Dr. Williams, who has served as Morgan’s associate vice president and dean of students since 2022 and most recently as interim vice president, brings more than two decades of experience advancing student development, student well-being and institutional effectiveness across diverse higher education environments.

“Dr. Williams has demonstrated, through her leadership and results, an exceptional ability to align student success with institutional excellence,” said President Wilson. “At a time when Morgan is experiencing unprecedented growth and transformation, we need leaders who understand that the student experience is not ancillary. It is central to our mission. Dr. Williams brings the strategic vision, collaborative spirit and deep expertise required to ensure our students thrive academically, personally and professionally.”

Since arriving at Morgan, Dr. Williams has provided strategic oversight for 11 departments dedicated to enhancing student learning and development, promoting student well-being and preparing students for leadership and career success. Her leadership has been especially critical in moments requiring coordinated institutional response.

Her approach to student affairs is centered on the belief that student success involves an integrated, institution-wide strategy, one that connects engagement, care, academic progress and career readiness. As outlined in her presentation as a finalist for her new post, Dr. Williams emphasizes building systems for students that provide clear pathways to support, strengthen early academic connections and align leadership development with workforce preparation.

Under her leadership, the Division of Student Affairs has expanded coordinated care networks, strengthened crisis response systems and implemented initiatives that reduce barriers to academic progress, including integrated systems that enhance academic and housing support. She has also led efforts to enhance students’ sense of belonging on campus, by expanding leadership pipelines, implementing identity-affirming programming and increasing opportunities for students to actively engage in campus life.

“It is an honor to serve in this role at such a defining moment in Morgan State University’s trajectory. Morgan’s legacy of transforming lives and expanding opportunity is one I am proud to build upon in service of our students,” said Dr. Williams. “I am deeply committed to advancing a student experience grounded in care that fosters belonging, supports well-being, and prepares the next generation of confident, world-ready leaders. I look forward to working alongside our students, staff, faculty, and broader community to realizing a holistic vision for student success—one that ensures our students not only succeed, but flourish.”

Dr. Williams succeeds Dr. Banks, who retired in 2025 after a distinguished tenure that helped transform student affairs at Morgan into a more comprehensive, care first enterprise.

Before joining Morgan, Dr. Williams held senior leadership roles at the University of the District of Columbia, where she oversaw a wide range of student development and success initiatives, including counseling and wellness, residence life, student conduct and multicultural affairs. Her experience also includes leadership positions at the University of Trinidad and Tobago and the University of Maryland, College Park. 

A Fulbright Fellow and nationally recognized scholar, Dr. Williams has contributed to research on internationalization and student development and now serves on multiple national boards, including the board of directors of the National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment. She holds a Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours from the University of the West Indies.

Her appointment reflects Morgan’s continued commitment to building a diverse and dynamic executive leadership team, as evidenced by the University’s recent recognition on the 2026 Executive Alliance Honor Roll for Women’s Representation in Maryland.

As Morgan advances its strategic priorities and R1 aspirations, Dr. Williams will play a central role in ensuring that student success remains the driving force behind institutional excellence, transforming potential into possibility for generations of Morgan students to come.

About Morgan

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master’s degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu. 

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Media Contacts:

Larry Jones, or Cheryl Stewart, for Morgan State University PR
443-885-3022