The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) congratulates DR. DWIGHT L. WILLIAMS, PH.D., P.E. as the 2005 - 2006 National Young Engineer of the Year
Aside from Dwight’s engineering pursuits, he actively participates in numerous civic and humanitarian activities. He currently serves as a public spokesperson for minorities and engineers, a mentor, and a marriage ministry co-director at Hope Christian Church (HCC). In times past, he has served as a volunteer tutor, a volunteer summer engineering instructor, and a singles ministry co-director of Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church (GMCHC).
Through Dwight’s civic and humanitarian activities, he has been able to present himself, and therefore engineers in general, in a positive light and draw individuals towards the field. As a result of his efforts in these areas, he was presented the National Society of Black Engineers AEDC Humanitarian of the Year award for 2006.
Dwight the Spokesman
Dwight was born in the inner city, attended public schools, and was reared by his mother -- a single parent. Today he finds himself atop the engineering field as the most promising engineer in America. Throughout Dwight’s journey from the ghetto to the Pentagon, he has developed a passion for issues related to diversity, science and technology, leadership, faith, and education. Moreover, he has become masterful at communicating the principles that have governed his life in these areas and led him to his position of success. As a result, Dwight travels the country speaking on these issues so that others might develop a greater understanding and appreciation of these principles, enabling them to experience similar levels of success.
Dwight’s most recent speaking engagements include delivering the keynote address at the National Science Foundation and Defense Intelligence Agency Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ceremonies. In addition, he regularly speaks at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) to engineering students regarding technical and professional development. He has provided similar technical, social, and leadership development lectures at Howard University, the City University of New York, and several other institutions. Dwight has also facilitated the development of school-aged children by speaking at high school science and technology awards banquets, career days, and college fairs. In addition, he has led monthly discussions with the Patriots Technology Training Center teaching children about learning styles, diversity, and nuclear science.
Dwight’s 1-on-1 Investment in Others
For nearly two decades, Dwight has been active as a volunteer mentor and tutor. While at North Carolina State University (NCSU), he was a part of the Peer Mentor program. He also mentored fellow athletes on the NCSU track and field team. In addition, Dwight tutored his classmates in all levels of collegiate mathematics, chemistry, and physics. Because of his commitment to education and his fellow students, he provided his tutoring services for free. Most students that he tutored completed the semester with “B” averages. He says that the tutoring facilitated his retention of information, which led to his consistently high grades.
Dwight continues to mentor and tutor others even today. At work, he mentors ten scientists and engineers that are outside of his managerial authority. Besides offering technical guidance, he has given them extensive professional guidance related to their career paths. As a result, five of these individuals have achieved senior level positions within the U.S. Department of Defense. Moreover, these five individuals now have the tools that they need to mentor other scientists and engineers. Dwight also mentors community teens, as well.
Although Dwight’s schedule prevents him from tutoring the way he did at NCSU, he tries to find time whenever possible. Of the adults that Dwight has tutored in recent years, one graduated and continued on to medical school, one graduated and continued on to graduate school, and others have earned promotions at work.
Dwight’s Investment in Students
Dwight serves as the coordinator of the Potomac Maryland Region MATHCOUNTS competition -- the largest MATHCOUNTS competition in the state. MATHCOUNTS is a national mathematics enrichment program that supports middle school mathematics achievement. It is the mathematical equivalent to the National Spelling Bee. In addition, he has served as a science fair judge, and undergraduate scholarship judge, and a graduate fellowship judge.
Dwight’s commitment to students was evident even while he was a graduate student at NCSU. As a Graduate Teacher’s Assistant, he established a library of old tests to facilitate student test preparation efforts. He also served as a volunteer Summer Introduction to Engineering instructor where he taught and led laboratory exercises for high school students.
Dwight’s Church Related Activities
Dwight has been actively involved in church leadership for over a decade. While at NCSU, he served as a Sunday school teacher for a campus Christian organization. In this capacity, he instructed interested undergraduates regarding foundational principles of the Christian faith in a classroom setting. After graduating from NCSU and returning to the Washington, DC area, he served as the Singles Ministry Co-Director of Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church -- a well known church with over 3000 members at the time. Now, Dwight and his wife lead the Marriage Ministry at their current church, Hope Christian Church, which is pastured by the world renowned leader of the High Impact Leadership Coalition, Bishop Harry Jackson. Dwight and his wife also led the Leadership Campaign Building Fund fundraising effort which yielded $2 million in pledges from church leaders over a 5 year period.
