Dr. Sherrod Williams is the Chief Executive Officer of New Futures, a nonprofit advancing economic mobility by helping systemically excluded young people earn associate degrees and career-aligned credentials that lead to high-growth careers. Under his leadership, New Futures has expanded its impact, strengthened cross-sector employer partnerships, and secured transformative investments — including a $2 million award through MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call.

With more than two decades of leadership experience across higher education and the nonprofit sector, Dr. Williams brings expertise in strategy, organizational design, and mission-driven growth. Prior to joining New Futures, he served as Chief of Staff and Managing Director at The Washington Center, where he led enterprise-wide operations, talent strategy, data infrastructure, and equity initiatives to expand workforce access for underrepresented students.

A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Williams holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts Boston and graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.