Williamson is the current president and CEO of the South Carolina Technical College System.
George Fouts, interim president of the N.C. Community College System, said he was not involved in the search process but thinks Williamson is outstanding for the job.
“The state board has chosen well, and I told Dr. Williamson Thursday after the board meeting that I think he is an ideal candidate for this position,” he said.
Former president Scott Ralls — who left the position in September — said Williamson’s experience in the private industry gives him a unique skill set that will allow him to handle the position’s complexity.
“It’s a very complex system, so it’s a system where you have to know a little bit about a lot of things,” he said.
“You have to understand how colleges work, when you need to push things and when you need to get out of the way of things.”
Ralls also said it will be important for Williamson to build relationships.
“You need to understand how to collaborate with partners — particularly education partners like public schools and universities,” he said.