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Dr. Molly W. Williams retired in January 2004 following a 30-year
career at
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI. She was Professor of
Mechanical
and Aeronautical Engineering and Associate Dean for Research in
the College
of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Her education was at Northwestern
University (B.S., Science Engineering, 1963) and University of California
at
Berkeley (M.S. and Ph.D., Engineering Sciences. 1964 and 1966).
Most of her
professional career was as a faculty member, teaching classes in
materials
science, thermodynamics, and measurement and instrumentation, and
as an
administrator, overseeing the research activities in the college.
She is a
registered Professional Engineer in Michigan, and served as a
gubernatorial-appointed member of the Michigan State Board of Professional
Engineers from 1989-1997, including one term as Board Chair (1995-6).
As professor emerita, she continues as Co-Director of the Tribology
Laboratory, conducting research on friction, lubrication, wear,
with
particular emphasis on mechanical pump seals -- devices which permit
rotation of a pump shaft, but which prevent leakage of the process
fluid.
The sliding surfaces of seals must have low friction (to minimize
energy
consumption), excellent resistance to wear (to extend service life),
and
they must not permit excessive leakage (to prevent environmental
pollution).
Investigations have included exploration of diamond and diamond-like
coatings of seal faces, lubricant additives to enhance wear resistance,
and
texturing of the seal surface.
Dr. Williams also serves as a consultant to the Fundamentals of
Engineering
Examination Committee of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering
and Surveying. This group develops and manages the national examination
administered to candidates for professional engineering licensure.
In retirement, she now has the opportunity to pursue interests in
music
(vocal, guitar, hammered dulcimer, and English hand bells), travel,
and
outdoor activities (bicycling, cross country skiing, gardening,
and nature
study). The increased opportunity for recreational reading is also
welcome.
It is exciting to see the changes occurring in engineering, both
the
increases in technical information base and advances in technology,
but also
the significant changes within the engineering community. Barriers
to women
in engineering have lowered considerably since the mid-1960's. The
engineering community is no longer exclusively white males. Society
is now
much more accepting of women in technical careers. While there are
significant intellectual challenges to becoming an engineer, the
doors are
now open to anyone with the right set of skills - facility in science
and
mathematics, as well as creativity, problem solving, and communication.
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