President's Office

DR. Tonjua Williams
SPC President

Tonjua Williams, Ph.D., became St. Petersburg College's seventh president on July 3, 2017. A St. Petersburg native, Dr. Williams began her tenure with the college in 1986, rising through the ranks in a variety of academic and administrative roles.

Prior to becoming President, Dr. Williams was Senior Vice President for Student Services from 2013 to 2017. She has served in nearly every area of the college: Provost, Associate Provost, Director of Special Programs, Program Coordinator, Academic Advisor, Recruiter, Senior Accounting Clerk and Adjunct Faculty.

Dr. Williams earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Barry University, a master's degree in Counselor Education from University of South Florida, and bachelor's degrees in Business Administration and Humanities from Clearwater Christian College.

In 2016, Dr. Williams was awarded the prestigious Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence, making her part of the inaugural class of the Aspen Presidential Fellows. She is a graduate of Leadership Florida, Leadership Tampa Bay, Leadership St. Pete, the Chancellor's Leadership Program and the Executive Leadership Program at the University of Florida.

Selected by the presidents of the Florida College System, Dr. Williams served as Chair of the Florida College System Council of Presidents for the 2022-23 academic year and Legislative Session. 

Dr. Williams has served in a number of leadership capacities, including:

• Southern Association of Colleges with Associate Degrees, present
• The American Association for Women in Community Colleges, present
• Florida Council of 100, present
• Florida Holocaust Museum, present
• Pinellas County Urban League, present
• Morton Plant Mease Hospital, Chair - Community Health Needs, present
• St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, present
• The Links, Incorporated, Corresponding Secretary, present
• Achieving the Dream (ATD) Advisory Network Committee, 2016-present
• City of St. Petersburg 2020 Plan Education Sub-committee Chair, 2015-present
• Council for Student Affairs, Florida College System, Region 4, 2012-present
• Mt. Zion Human Services Board, board chair, 2012-present
• National Council of Negro Women, Member, 2012-present
• American Association of Community Colleges, 2011- present
  • Chair - Commission on Economic and Workforce Development
  • President's Round Table
  • Member
• State of Florida Performance Based Incentive Program Review Committee, 2016
• PACE School for Girls, board member, 2014-2016
• State of Florida Student Activities Committee, member-at-large, 2013-2016
• St. Petersburg Free Clinic, executive board member, 2014-2015
• Mayor's Transition Team, community member, 2013
• Boys & Girls Club of America, executive board member, 2011-2012
• Pinellas County Education Foundation, 2011-2012
• Lakewood Jr. Spartans Youth Association, Inc., president, 2009-2012

Her awards and recognitions include:

• Inducted into the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame by the Florida Council on Economic Education, 2022
• Florida Trend Magazine's Women Leaders - Taking the Reins and Movers & Influencers, 2021 and 2022
• Power 100, Tampa Bay Business Journal, named for her work to better the community through education, 2021
• Phi Theta Kappa Paragon Award, honored for outstanding presidential leadership, 2020
• Women of Distinction Award, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, 2020
• Top 25 Women in Higher Education, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, 2018
• Tampa Bay Business Journal, Businesswoman of the Year in the Government/Nonprofit category, 2017
• The Weekly Challenger, Inaugural Impact Award at their 50^th Anniversary celebration, 2017
• Pinellas Opportunity Council, Inc., inaugural President's Award for Community Leadership, 2017
• National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Passing the Torch Leadership Award for Education, 2017
• Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (affiliate of the Department of Defense) Patriot Award, 2016
• Academy Preparatory School, Five Fabulous Females, 2014
• Chamber of Commerce, Iconic Woman of the Year Finalist for Large Businesses, 2013
• Network of Executive Women, Exceptional Woman of the Year Finalist, 2013
• Junior Achievement, Educator of the Year, 2011

Learn more about Dr. Williams on her website.

Dr. Williams can be contacted at president@spcollege.edu.