Anne Williams-Isom (born November 17, 1964) is an American government official, academic, lawyer and former nonprofit executive who has been serving as New York City deputy mayor for Health and Human Services since January 2022. She also served as acting First Deputy Mayor of New York City for a few hours in the morning on October 8, 2024 immediately following the formal resignation and departure of Sheena Wright from the office of First Deputy Mayor of New York City until the formal appointment of Maria Torres-Springer to that office in the afternoon that same day in accordance with Executive Order 45 released on September 26, 2024 by Mayor Eric Adams.[4][5][6] Williams-Isom 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.
Anne Williams-Isom | |
|---|---|
 Williams-Isom in 2023 | |
| Deputy Mayor of New York City for Health and Human Services | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2022 | |
| Mayor | Eric Adams |
| Preceded by | Melanie Hartzog |
| Acting First Deputy Mayor of New York City | |
| In office October 8, 2024[1][2][3] | |
| 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. |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Fordham University Columbia Law School |
| Occupation | Government official, academic, lawyer, nonprofit executive |
Early life
editWilliams was born on November 17, 1964, in Queens, New York City, to Edna and Atthille Williams.[7] Williams was a student at St. Catherine of Sienna School in St. Albans, Queens. She graduated from the Dominican Commercial High School.[7]
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.[7] 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.[7]
Career
editIn 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.[7] She later served as special counsel to the commissioner.[7] 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.[8][7]
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.[9]
Williams-Isom is the James R. Dumpson chair of child welfare studies at Fordham Graduate School of Social Service.[10][11]
In December 2021, Mayor-elect Eric Adams named Williams-Isom as the incoming deputy mayor for Health and Human Services.[10]
Personal life
editWilliams-Isom is married to Phillip Isom. They have three children.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Eric Adams order lays out what happens if Sheena Wright leaves".
- ^ "Mayor Adams quietly issues order shifting embattled top deputy Sheena Wright's powers if she's unable to do job – weeks after FBI raided her home".
- ^ "Executive Order 45".
- ^ "Eric Adams order lays out what happens if Sheena Wright leaves".
- ^ "Mayor Adams quietly issues order shifting embattled top deputy Sheena Wright's powers if she's unable to do job – weeks after FBI raided her home".
- ^ "Executive Order 45".
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Anne Williams-Isom's Biography". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
- ^ 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.