Anne Williams-Isom
Anne Williams-Isom | |
|---|---|
Williams-Isom in 2023 | |
| Deputy Mayor of New York City for Health and Human Services | |
| In office January 1, 2022 – March 14, 2025 | |
| Mayor | Eric Adams |
| Preceded by | Melanie Hartzog |
| Succeeded by | Suzanne Miles-Gustave |
| Acting First Deputy Mayor of New York City | |
| In office October 8, 2024 | |
| Mayor | Eric Adams |
| Preceded by | Sheena Wright |
| Succeeded by | Maria Torres-Springer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Anne Williams November 17, 1964 Queens, New York City, U.S. |
| Spouse | Phillip Isom |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Fordham University Columbia Law School |
| Occupation | Government official, academic, lawyer, nonprofit executive |
Anne Williams-Isom (born November 17, 1964) is an American government official, academic, lawyer and former nonprofit executive who served as New York City deputy mayor for health and human services from January 2022 to March 2025. She also served as acting first deputy mayor of New York City from the departure of former first deputy mayor Sheena Wright in the morning on October 8, 2024 until the appointment of Maria Torres-Springer as first deputy mayor later that same day in accordance with Executive Order 45 issued on September 26, 2024 by Mayor Eric Adams that automatically delegates the duties of first deputy mayor to the deputy mayor for health and human services if for any reason the position of first deputy mayor becomes vacant or the first deputy mayor is for any reason unable to perform the duties of first deputy mayor.[1] She holds the James R. Dumpson chair of child welfare studies at Fordham Graduate School of Social Service. She was the chief operating officer and later the chief executive officer of the Harlem Children's Zone.
Early life
Williams was born on November 17, 1964, in Queens, New York City, to Edna and Atthille Williams.[2] Williams was a student at St. Catherine of Sienna School in St. Albans, Queens. Her mother emigrated to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago.[3] She graduated from the Dominican Commercial High School.[2]
Williams-Isom completed a B.S. in political science and psychology at Fordham University in 1986. That year, she started working in community affairs at the New York City Police Department in Brooklyn.[2] Williams-Isom earned a Juris Doctor degree at Columbia Law School in 1991. She completed course work in ministry at the New York Theological Seminary.[2]
Career
In 1991, Williams-Isom joined Robinson, Silverman, Pearce, Aronsohn, and Berman. She joined Kalkines, Arky, Zall & Bernstein in 1994. In 1996, Williams-Isom joined the New York City Administration for Children's Services as the director of the Office of Community Planning and Development.[2] She later served as special counsel to the commissioner.[2] In 2006, under during the Mayoralty of Michael Bloomberg, she was promoted to deputy commissioner of community and government affairs at the New York City Administration for Children's Services.[4][2]
Williams-Isom became the chief operating officer Harlem Children's Zone in 2009. On July 1, 2014, Williams-Isom succeeded Geoffrey Canada as its chief executive officer.[5]
Williams-Isom is the James R. Dumpson chair of child welfare studies at Fordham Graduate School of Social Service.[6][7]
In December 2021, Mayor-elect Eric Adams named Williams-Isom as the incoming deputy mayor for Health and Human Services.[6]
Personal life
Williams-Isom is married to Phillip Isom. They have three children.[2] She is a member of the Abyssinian Baptist Church.[8]
References
- ^ "Eric Adams order lays out what happens if Sheena Wright leaves". City & State New York. September 27, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Anne Williams-Isom's Biography". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
- ^ Sommerfeldt, Chris (February 18, 2025). "NYC deputy mayors who resigned told Adams they needed to make their immigrant parents 'proud'". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ^ Akinnibi, Fola; Nahmias, Laura (December 20, 2021). "NYC Mayor-Elect Adams Picks Five Women for Key Leadership Posts". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
- ^ Feeney, Michael J. (2014-07-02). "She's in Zone". Daily News. p. 42. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
- ^ a b Arinde, Nayaba (2021-12-23). "Women Shall Lead NYC: Mayor-elect Adams picks five experienced and talented women to be his deputy mayors". New York Amsterdam News. Archived from the original on 2021-12-23. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
- ^ Mays, Jeffery C. (2021-12-21). "Eric Adams Names 5 Women to Top City Hall Posts". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
- ^ McDonough, annie (November 13, 2023). "Anne Williams-Isom on life at the center of the storm". City & State. Retrieved February 18, 2025.