NYU Selects First Woman President Who Happens to Be a Lawyer

On July 1, 2023 Linda Mills will become the 17th president of New York University. The appointment of Dr. Mills marks the first woman president of NYU. Mills is currently a professor of social work, public policy and law, and the inaugural Lisa Ellen Goldberg Professor and Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice Provost for Global Programs and University Life.

A member of the NYU community for almost twenty-five years, she serves as the executive director of the Center on Violence and Recovery at NYU and her scholarship in the social work field focuses on domestic partner abuse and treatment. Mills is also the director of NYU’s Production Lab which supports student filmmaking. An award-winning filmmaker herself, in 2010 Mills co-directed and produced, ‘Auf Wiedersehen:’Til We Meet Again’ about her mother’s Holocaust experience. She also produced Of Many: Then and Now, about a transformative relationship between an orthodox rabbi and an imam.

In announcing her appointment, which was a unanimous decision of the Board, William Berkley, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, said, “We couldn’t be more pleased by the selection of Linda Mills as president. Linda has been deeply involved in many of NYU’s most important undertakings over the past decade. She brings a data-driven approach to analysis and decision-making, yet never loses sight of the very human elements at the heart of a university - the passion of scholars for their field, the interaction between faculty member and student, the ambitions and welfare of students in and out of the classroom, and the trust that students’ families place in us.”

Prior to joining NYU, Mills was a lecturer in the School of Law and an assistant professor in the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research, where she received early tenure.

Mills earned her JD from the University of California Hastings College of Law, an MSW from San Francisco State University and a PhD from Brandeis University in health policy.

NYU has had two other lawyer presidents: John Sexton who served from 2003-2015 and Theodore Frelinghuysen, President from 1839-1850.

Former High-Level Government Lawyer and Big Law Partner Karol V. Mason Leading John Jay College

Referred to as a “legal pioneer” with careers in both the private and public sectors and now higher education, Karol V. Mason was appointed as the first woman and the first minority president of John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2017.

In the announcement of her appointment, Chancellor James Milliken stated, “Karol Mason has established herself as a bold, visionary leader in the fields of law and criminal justice reform…she will be bringing her skills, energy and insights to our outstanding students…” Eric Holder, former United States Attorney General (2009 to 2015), commented: “In a nation grappling with issues surrounding its criminal justice system, the appointment of Karol Mason at John Jay College is a welcome sign that evidence-based solutions to these issues will be championed. Throughout her career, and especially during her time at the Department of Justice, Karol was an advocate for principled research and the development of new ways to deal with issues that we have confronted for so long. In this new role at this prestigious institution I am confident she will be a leader in helping to make the progress our nation so sorely needs."

Following graduation from the University of Michigan Law School, Mason clerked for the Hon. John F. Grady who served on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. She then joined the international law firm of Alston & Bird, LLP moving from Associate to Partner, Chair of the Public Finance Group, and Member and then Chair of the firm’s Management Committee. Mason was the firm’s first black female partner. She left the firm for a few years beginning in 2009 (to 2012) to serve as the Deputy Associate Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice where she oversaw the Office of Justice Programs, the Office of Violence Against Women, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Community Relations Services, and the Tax Division. Nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Karol Mason was appointed as Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs (2013-2017) where, among other things, she oversaw an annual budget of more than $4 billion dedicated to supporting state, local, and tribal criminal justice agencies; an array of juvenile justice programs; a wide range of research, evaluation, and statistical efforts; and comprehensive services for crime victims. Led and managed a workforce of approximately 1,275 people, of which 720 were federal employees, and the remainder were contractors and fellows.

In an interview shortly after arriving at John Jay, President Mason said that she decided she wanted to be a lawyer because she saw that civil rights lawyers were changing the world. When asked to describe the defining factor that led her to take on the role as President of John Jay, Mason responded, “I didn’t want to be a college president—I wanted to be the President of John Jay, because of what John Jay does and represents. John Jay students are often the first generation to attend college. John Jay provides a wonderful opportunity to educate future leaders whose perspectives are critical for our country. This is a dream job because education has the power to transform people’s lives. I want to be here for the long haul and end my professional career at John Jay, and see what these young people do to lead our country.”

When asked about her greatest strengths, she replied, “I’m not a traditional candidate, but I have had deep exposure to academia, and I’m a continual learner. I’m also able to listen and build consensus…My experience in the DOJ administration also lets me make connections for students.”

Civil Rights Attorney and Prominent Educator Dr. Gregory Vincent Leads Talladega College

The Talladega College Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Gregory Vincent as its 21st President effective June 1, 2022.

A seasoned educator, prior to joining Talladega College Dr. Vincent was Professor of Educational Policy and Law, Inaugural Executive Director of the Education and Civil Rights Initiative, and Program Chair of the Ph.D. Senior Diversity Officer Specialization at the University of Kentucky. Vincent, “…rose to prominence as a result of his robust defense of the University of Texas at Austin’s affirmative action case that was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013 and 2016. At the time, Vincent, was Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement at UT Austin and served as the university’s spokesperson in that nationally recognized legal case.” Vincent also served as the W.K. Kellogg Professor at the University of Texas at Austin and held a number of executive leadership positions and professorships at several flagship universities.

According to Mrs. Rica Lewis-Payton, Talladega College Board of Trustee member and search committee chair, Dr. Vincent's proven record of exceptional leadership and measurable results in public service, business, academia, and community sealed the deal. “Dr. Vincent’s unique position and values resonated.”

Dr. Vincent served as President of Hobart and William Smith Colleges in New York. Although his tenure was short-lived due to an allegation of plagiarism, Dr. Vincent resolved the issue and has continued a successful career in higher education. His ability to address the situation and to move on is an example of leadership and determination.

Gregory Vincent was born in Harlem, NY, and was inspired to attend law school by Thurgood Marshall who was a parishioner at the same church he attended as a young person. His interest in civil rights was sparked at an early age. However, according to Vincent, “Everything has been around this moral compass of doing the right things the right way, living up to the ideals of our democratic society, which is why I moved into education,” Vincent said. “The thought was that if I moved into education, I could begin to work on … issues before the harm even occurred. That’s been part of my inspiration.”

Gregory Vincent eared his J.D. from the Ohio University Moritz College of Law. He earned his EdD from the University of Pennsylvania. According to his bio, he was an assistant attorney general in the Office of the Ohio Attorney General where he successfully argued several major civil rights cases before the Supreme Court of Ohio. He was later appointed Director for Regional and Legal affairs for the Ohio Civil Rights Commission and vice president and lead counsel for Bank One. He also founded an Ohio-based law firm focusing on civil rights, education, and employment, and co-founded a global diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting firm.