 John Williams
Geology Department Chair
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA
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 BS, Texas
Christian University (Geology)
MS, Memphis
State (Geology) |
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Geology Department
Chair |
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"It's rare now that
you work on a big project, that you're The Lone Ranger. It's a
team approach." |
"It's rare now that you work on a big project, that you're The Lone
Ranger. One individual simply doesn't have the breadth of experience or
academic training to really do the job by themselves. So, it's a team
approach. You might be the lead person on it, but I would say that in 90
percent of the times, to be truly effective, you've got to have team
members to bring some additional talent to bear on the subject. If nothing
more, just to simply be a sounding board, where you can bounce your ideas
off that individual to see if they have credibility. Or else to be the
arguer on the side, it often ends up being a much better product. If
you're working by yourself, you can always convince yourself you're
right."
Dr. Williams, received a BS (1967) in geology from the College of William
and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, an MS (1968) and Ph.D. (1970) in geology from
Stanford University. The introductory physical geology course at the
College of William and Mary stimulated his interest in pursing an academic
program in geology. Upon completion of his Ph.D., he joined the California
Division of Mines and Geology (CDMG) as a geologist working in the San
Francisco office. During his tenure with the CDMG, he worked on a variety
of projects from marine to engineering geology. Most of his activities
involved the detection and evaluation of geologic factors influencing land
use decisions. In 1976, he joined the faculty of the Department of Geology
at San Jose State University as an engineering geologist with
responsibility to develop an engineering geology program, to teach courses
at the graduate and undergraduate levels in engineering geology, to direct
student research, and to conduct his own research. Most of his research
involves seismic hazards and slope instabilities as they relate to land
use decisions. He is Chair of the Department and has served in the
position for the past 16 years. He has been President of the Association
of Engineering Geologists (A EG), President of the National Association of
State Boards of Geology (ASBOG), President of the Engineering Geology
Foundation (EGF), and Chair of the Examination Committee for the
California Board of Registration for Geologists and Geophysicists.
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