H. James Williams, dean of the Seidman College of Business, as well as professor of accounting, was recently chosen to be the next president of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. This appointment became public on Dec. 5. Williams came to Grand Valley State University in 2004, where he has helped position the Seidman College of Business as a premier business school in the Midwest.

With this position, the school of business created a full-time master of business administration degree, which provided students with a paid fellowship and study abroad. This college also completed the William Seidman Center in downtown Grand Rapids.

This $40 million building will contain the Seidman College of Business, the Small Business Technology and the Development Center as well as the Van Andel Global Trade Center. In addition, Williams assisted in establishing the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation as well as the Center for Leadership and Innovation.