Brandon Williams ’13

By Samantha Wagner and Baker Maultsby

This article appeared originally in the Fall 2018 issue of Frontiers Magazine. 

When he enrolled as a freshman at Spartanburg Methodist College, Brandon Williams thought he might become a pharmacist. He had an interest, though, in engineering, and Williams says SMC physics professor Mark Holycross gave him the confidence to pursue a degree in the field.

“He told me that I possessed the necessary skills in physics and mathematics to become a successful engineer. … And I thank him for that,” he said.

Williams is now a graduate student in the mechanical engineering program at Clemson University. He is working on a project supported by the U.S. Army that aims to equip military vehicles — from helicopters to tanks — with the ability to provide real-time data on wear and tear. The “smart skin” technology will help guide operators as they make costly decisions on replacing or upgrading key military equipment.

Williams, who grew up in Greenville and attended North Greenville University after graduating from SMC, enjoys his math-focused work in the lab at Clemson. He’s excited about milestones in his ongoing research and about plans to pursue a Ph.D., and he remains grateful for the support he received at SMC. “It was a good place for me, because the faculty and staff were so nurturing at a critical time in my life when I needed it the most.”