Biography

John W. Williams
Department of Geology, San Jose State
San Jose, CA

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 worke d 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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