EarthStorm

T.H. Lee Williams

Vice President for Research
Dean of the Graduate College
University of Oklahoma
Regents' Professor of Geography
OU College Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences

Lee Williams earned his B.Sc. Honors in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Bristol (England) in 1972. In 1977, he completed his Ph.D. in Geography, also at the University of Bristol.

Dr. Williams was born and raised in Wales. After a stint doing Voluntary Service Overseas (the British Peace Corps) in the Caribbean, where he met and married his wife Naila, they returned to Bristol where he obtained his Ph.D. in geography, working in the then-new field of satellite remote sensing of natural resources. They moved to the U.S. in 1976, for a one-year postdoctoral research position at OU. This was followed by nine years on the faculty at the University of Kansas, and a return to OU in 1986. From 1990 to 1999 he served as Associate Dean of Geosciences, where he was responsible for research and computing/networking. He also served as Director of the Oklahoma EPSCoR program and Director of Science and Technology Research for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education from 1994 to 1999. In this capacity he helped build research infrastructure and collaborative programs between the state's research universities. During this time he also directed K-12 education programs in the geosciences and geography that involved teachers and students across the state. His current position as Graduate Dean and Vice President for Research continue his interest in building broad-based research strengths that also further the university's educational mission.

His research and teaching interests have spanned disciplinary boundaries. His interest in development of satellite remote sensing of the environment has encompassed spatial modeling of noxious weeds, radar remote sensing of arctic sea ice, and exploration petroleum geology.

Lee and Naila have three kids - Owen-John (20, OU Cheer squad Captain and All-Star National Champion), Samantha (16, High School Varsity soccer), and Gareth (13, a motocrosser and football player). Lee's main hobbies are racing dirt bikes (motocross, cross-country, and enduro) and flying his 1956 Cessna Skyhawk airplane. Unfortunately, he doesn't get to fly as much as he would like.