Dr. A. Hope Williams is President of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU), the statewide office of the 36 independent (private) colleges and universities in North Carolina. As President, she is the Chief Executive Officer for the NCICU Board of Directors of college and university presidents and for the Independent College Fund of North Carolina board that also includes corporate trustees and raises corporate and foundation funds for student scholarships and programs. She has been president of NCICU since 1992.

Dr. Williams received her undergraduate degree in French and History from Duke University, an MPA degree from North Carolina State University and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She currently chairs the board of MCNC and serves on the National Advisory Board of the Institute for Emerging Issues, the National Student Clearinghouse Board of Directors and the Research Board, College Foundation, Incorporated, the NCWorks Commission, Communities in Schools of North Carolina and the North Carolina Aquarium Society