David Williams II, vice chancellor for university affairs and athletics, director of athletics and professor of law, has been appointed to the Nashville Public Education Foundation Board.
Williams, who attended public schools growing up in Detroit, hails from a family of public school educators and taught public school for 10 years.
“I believe in my soul there is no issue more important to a community’s success than public education,” Williams said in a release announcing his appointment. “I saw what happened in Detroit and Columbus when the public lost faith and confidence in its public schools. It had a devastating effect on those cities. I want to do whatever it takes to ensure Nashville never falls victim to that.”
NPEF, a nonprofit charged with raising private funds to improve public schools, last year named a new CEO and president, Shannon Hunt, amid restructuring efforts. Founded in 2004, NPEF has raised $30 million for Metro Nashville Public Schools.
Tom Sherrard, NPEF chair, said Williams “is exactly the right kind of leader” for the future as the board charts a new course.
Williams joined Vanderbilt in 2000 as general counsel and a member of the law faculty. He became a vice chancellor and athletics director in 2003. In Nashville, he also has been active in Leadership Nashville, Nashville’s Agenda steering committee, the Nashville Symphony and on Metro’s Procurement Standards Board.