Andrew B. Williams, Ph.D., will join The Citadel School of Engineering, one of the oldest engineering programs in America, on July 1, 2021. Currently, Williams is the Charles E. and Mary Jane Spahr Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Kansas School of Engineering.

Williams also serves on a National Academy of Engineering workshop committee for diversity, the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Education Advisory Committee, and as treasurer for the National GEM Consortium Alumni Advisory Board.

His career spans higher education and the private sector, including positions at Apple Inc., GE Medical Systems, and Allied Signal Aerospace Company. He was also a Boeing Welliver Faculty Fellow and GE Edison Engineer.

Williams was a department chair for computer and information sciences at Spelman College and a research affiliate in the Human-Automation Systems Lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Williams was the John P. Raynor Distinguished Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Marquette University, where he founded and directed the Humanoid Engineering and Intelligent Robotics Lab.

His research and education work in artificial intelligence, autonomous robotics, and human-robot interaction has resulted in over 100 technical publications and presentations. Williams is the author of the book, “Out of the Box: Building Robots, Transforming Lives.”

“Dr. Williams is an accomplished administrator and scholar, currently serving as associate dean of the University of Kansas School of Engineering with more than 2,500 undergraduate students,” said The Citadel Provost, Sally Selden. “For 20 years, Dr. Williams has led efforts to improve and introduce innovative engineering curriculum. Additionally, he is a strategic financial planner who has helped raise approximately $29 million in grants and support for education and research from organizations including Apple, Boeing, GE, GM, Google, IBM, NASA, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the National Security Agency.”

During his time at the University of Kansas, Williams led strategic planning, fundraising, and implementation efforts to catapult the university’s Indigenous, Hispanic, African American, Women, KU Engineering  (IHAWKe) diversity and women’s programs to receive the 2019 Diversity Recognition Program Award with exemplary distinction, given by the American Society of Engineering Education.

“I am thrilled to be joining this world-class institution as Dean and to collaboratively build upon the outstanding work of The Citadel School of Engineering leadership and faculty. Being the son of a WWII and Korean War veteran increases the sense of honor and pride I feel as I look forward to serving and educating future principled leaders at the Military College of South Carolina and the broader community.”

Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Kansas, a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Marquette University, a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in artificial intelligence (AI) from the University of Kansas, and an M.B.A. from Rockhurst University.