Peter M. Williams is Vice President for the School of Continuing Education and Community Programs at Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York. In this capacity, he oversees adult educational development, youth development and workforce development classes and programs at Medgar Evers College.

Prior to joining Medgar Evers College, Williams was the Deputy Public Advocate for Policy and Research, where he oversaw research and policy development for Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum. While at the Office of the Public Advocate, Williams authored several reports, including “Starting the Day Hungry: New York City’s Participation in the School Breakfast Program Stamping out Hunger,” and “ Why New York City is Falling Behind in Food Stamp Registration.”

Before joining the Public Advocate’s Office, Williams was Director of Housing and Community Economic Development for the National Urban League (NUL), where he directed several of the league’s major initiatives throughout the country. Before joining the NUL, he was Project Associate at the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College, where he led initiatives addressing housing discrimination, the New York City budget, and the city’s charter revision of 1989. Additionally, while at Medgar Evers College, Williams co-authored two major papers on housing discrimination entitled “Race-based Lending in New York State,” and “Race and Mortgage Lending in New York City: A Study of Redlining.”

Williams has taught courses in national and city government as an adjunct professor at the Pratt Institute Graduate School of City and Regional Planning and at Medgar Evers College. While enrolled in a Master’s degree program at American University in Washington, DC, he worked as an aide to Congressman Edolphus Towns. His responsibilities included analysis of legislation and providing constituent services.

Williams serves on the Board of Directors of the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, the nation’s first community development corporation; Emmanuel Community Economic Development Corporation, a faith-based local development organization serving Clinton Hill and surrounding communities; Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, a Christian Brother affiliated high school; the Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center, a community health clinic serving central Brooklyn; and City Limits, a progressive public affairs magazine. His is also First Vice President of the Brooklyn Branch of the NAACP. In addition, Williams was appointed by the five borough presidents to serve on the New York City Commission on Public Information and Communication.

A native of Brooklyn, New York City, Williams attended elementary and high schools in the Fort Greene-Clinton Hill area. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Arizona State University, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from American University. A member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., he lives with wife, civil rights attorney Jacqueline Berrien, in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.