KENNESAW, Ga. | Jun 15, 2021

When it comes to describing Kennesaw State University student George Williams, engineering professors Simin Nasseri and Mohammad Jonaidi find themselves rattling off a lengthy list of accomplishments.

While serving as president of the KSU Motorsports student organization, Williams has carved out a niche for research in two departments within the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, co-authoring numerous journal papers and conference presentations. He also held two internships, one at industrial controls company Rovisys and another at Compass Technology Group, which specializes in electromagnetic high-frequency measurement. In his free time, he uses his technical writing skills to flex his creative muscle, writing science fiction novels.

“It goes without saying that George is a talented student,” said Nasseri, professor of mechanical engineering. “He is curious and always approaches his studies with an eye toward how they can be used in the future. In the time I’ve gotten to know him, he has been one of the most responsible and determined people, and I know he will go on to achieve great things in life.”

Raised in Roswell, Ga., Williams said he was originally drawn to the world of engineering by his family. His father is a software developer, and his mother worked on projects for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Michelin. However, it wasn’t until he joined the robotics team at Roswell High School that he really began to envision a career in engineering.

Williams enrolled at Kennesaw State in 2017 to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering, which led to his meeting Nasseri and joining her research team in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Under her guidance, Williams has explored how to create low-cost, customizable composite supports to correct painful body disorders that would otherwise require expensive surgery. The approach uses 3D printing to produce wearable supports to reduce joint pain.

In KSU’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Williams has conducted research under Mohammad Jonaidi, using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to study the behavior of composite systems comprised of concrete, steel and foam under specific loadings.

“The fact that he balanced our project while juggling other responsibilities is a testament to his abilities as a student,” said Jonaidi, assistant professor of civil engineering. “He was able to absorb a wealth of information in a short amount of time, and the advanced subject matter easily leads to post-graduate level projects and courses.”

Beyond his research experience, Williams credits his participation in KSU Motorsports for helping him find a community of like-minded students and for providing an outlet for his engineering skills. As part of the club, which builds formula-style racecars from scratch, Williams has done everything from designing and building components to handling administrative tasks while they prepare for intercollegiate competitions.

Now in his final year at KSU, Williams has his sights set on the future. He looks to enter the industry for a few years before pursuing graduate school abroad.

“Further down the line, I see myself obtaining an engineering license and publishing my first novel,” he said. “The possibilities right now are endless, but I know I have a solid foundation through my research experience and can expand that in any direction I see fit.”

– Travis Highfield

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.