Daria J. Willis Selected as the Next President of Everett Community College in Washington State

Daria J. Willis will be the next president of Everett Community College in Washington State. Dr. Willis agreed to a three-year contract that will pay her $241,000 annually. When she takes office on July 1, she will be the first African American and the fourth woman to hold the position.

Everett Community College enrolls more than 7,700 students, according to the latest data supplied to the U.S. Department of education. Women make up 55 percent of the student body.

“I am so very elated to join such a transformative institution,” Dr. Willis said. “I look forward to building relationships with faculty, staff, and students to lead the charge for Everett Community College’s continued success for many years to come.”

A native of Georgia, Dr. Willis had earned enough credits to graduate from high school after 11th grade. She enrolled at Florida A&M University and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history. She went on to obtain a Ph.D. in history from Florida State University.

Dr. Willis has been serving as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, New York. Earlier in her career, Dr. Willis was an assistant professor of history, faculty senate president, department chair, and dean of academic studies at Lee College in Baytown, Texas.