Arlanda Williams Named Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Institutional Advancement

December 06, 2017

Arlanda Williams of Houma, LA, has been named vice chancellor for workforce development and institutional advancement at Delgado Community College. The appointment was announced by Delgado Chancellor Joan Davis, who noted that an extensive search had been conducted during the fall semester to find “the best leader for our efforts to take Delgado Community College to a higher level of community responsiveness and community service.”

In her new position, Williams will have senior administrative responsibility for the areas of Workforce Development, which provides job training services and continuing education, and Institutional Advancement, which includes college-wide public relations, marketing, development, alumni affairs and support services for the Delgado Foundation. Also under her leadership are the Delgado Maritime and Industrial Training Facility, the Workforce Center of Excellence, the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and several major federal grants. There are about 40 full-time employees in the division.

“It is an absolute pleasure and honor to be selected by Delgado Community College leadership, faculty and staff to join Louisiana’s largest and oldest community college in this critical role,” Williams said. “As we advance toward Delgado’s second century of service to our city and our region, I look forward to working side-by-side with our community members and leaders to enhance awareness and support for the college, as well as providing targeted, effective workforce development for regional business and industry.”

Williams is currently serving her second full term as the elected representative of District 2 on the Terrebonne Parish Council and has been re-elected to serve her third term on the Terrebonne Parish Council. Williams was the first female elected to serve as chair of the Terrebonne Parish Council and has served three times as chairwoman of the Council. She is active in numerous local, state and federal organizations.

She is immediate past president of the National Association of Democratic Officials, and is in her third term on the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee as the 2nd vice president. She is also an executive member of the Democratic National Committee and served as a super delegate for the 2016 Presidential election.

Williams was appointed to represent local government officials on the FEMA Mitigation Leadership Group and served on Governor John Bel Edwards’ transition team for the Department of Economic Development. She serves as parliamentarian for Junior Auxiliary of Houma; president of the South Central Planning and Regional Development Commission; immediate past president of the Terrebonne General Foundation Board; treasurer of the National Organization of Black County Officials and is an executive board member of the Louisiana Police Jury Association.

Williams recently received one of the National Association of University Women’s Phenomenal Women Awards.

She was named one of the 2011 MacDonnell Children Services Volunteer Activist Award recipients, and was the recipient of the 2008 Athena Award by the Houma Women’s Business Alliance.

Williams is a graduate of Southern University at New Orleans, having earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science and a master’s degree in criminal justice, and is also 2014 graduate of Southern University at Baton Rouge with an executive master of public administration degree. She is a graduate of Leadership Terrebonne 2007.