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Philip Williams

2022 Presidential Citation for Meritorious Teaching

Philip Williams

Dr. Philip Williams is an active successful researcher in the Department of Chemistry who believes that students finding their passion for life-long learning and intellectual curiosity lies at the heart of the role of a university. He strives to show students the beauty in chemistry in part through a recognition that his most influential lectures are often the result of errors made my students or by himself. This discovery catalyzed a shift in his teaching to a more fluid lecture mode, to exploring worthwhile tangents with students to generate creativity and refined critical thinking to meet chemistry’s intellectual challenge. “Dr. Williams caused a paradigm shift in my perception in what attending a university as a student meant.” A former international student, now a professor herself, expressed that she has not encountered a teacher, advisor, mentor, more devoted to his students in her entire academic life. Colleagues express that Professor Williams teaches courses viewed as necessary evils, and performs a rare, remarkable feat of turning the experience into successfully creating community.

“Dr. Williams caused a paradigm shift in my perception in what attending a university as a student meant.”

Former Student

2022 Faculty Awardees