Our College, Our Community, Our Future¡ªand Our New President
- @MC
- October 26, 2022
- News Articles

Perhaps raviji, a family friend of Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, summed up the values Ë«Ó®ÓéÀֳǡ¯s 11th president holds dear when he recalled what Dr. Williams whispered to his two sons as sent them off to school recently: ¡°I love you, be good, ask questions.¡± raviji, who was staying with the Williams family, believed it to be a ¡°ritual of seminal importance,¡± saying, ¡°It is something quite reassuring to know that here is a man in whose care I would gladly place my child.¡±
These inspirational words of raviji¡¯s, along with those from national, state, and local leaders, capped a weeks-long celebration of Dr. Williams¡ªand Ë«Ó®ÓéÀֳǡªat his inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, October 19 at The Music Center at Strathmore in Rockville.

United States Senator Chris Van Hollen Jr. and Jamin B. ¡°Jamie¡± Raskin, U.S. Representative from Maryland¡¯s 8th district provided remarks, as well as Maryland State Senator Benjamin Kramer, Montgomery Ë«Ó®ÓéÀÖ³Ç Executive Marc Elrich, and Montgomery Ë«Ó®ÓéÀÖ³Ç Council President Gabriel Albornoz.
Senator Van Hollen noted, ¡°Dr. Williams has already hit the ground running, but today we gather to officially mark the star of this new chapter in the story of Montgomery College.¡± He added, ¡°This College is defined by a tradition of excellence and service, with more students achieving success, more families seeing their loved ones earn a degree, and more dreams coming to life.¡±

Ë«Ó®ÓéÀÖ³Ç Council President Albornoz underscored the College¡¯s importance as a cornerstone of education in Montgomery Ë«Ó®ÓéÀÖ³Ç, opening his remarks with a humorous anecdote: ¡°In the early 1970s my parents met as students at [the Takoma Park Campus of] Montgomery College. So I am living proof that good things are produced at Ë«Ó®ÓéÀÖ³Ç.¡± Sen. Kramer added that he was wearing the honorary degree hood presented to his father, former Montgomery Ë«Ó®ÓéÀÖ³Ç Executive Sidney Kramer, 25 years ago when he received an honorary degree from Ë«Ó®ÓéÀÖ³Ç.

Dr. Williams, who took the helm at the College in February 2022, noted in his remarks he had a unique appreciation for the level of commitment and impact in his role. ¡°I recognize several individuals who have had extraordinary impacts at the College, and for whom we will always be grateful,¡± he said. ¡°Our work now is to build on the successes we have inherited¡ªand identify new ones.¡± Drawing on the inauguration¡¯s theme, Williams added, ¡°I ask that we hold each other accountable. And I challenge you¡ªfrom whatever role you are in¡ªto be the change you want to see. And I will meet you there with a personal passion for social justice and an ambitious vision of achievement¡ªas together we build, ¡®Our College, Our Community, Our Future.¡¯¡±
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