Who's Who From SU
Willis Weigand, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Director of General Chemistry Labs
Willis Weigand looks forward to each semester and the new group of students who join his classroom. "I think a lot of students come to college and think the teachers are just going to unzip their head and pour in a bunch of stuff. The real learning of college, while the professor can help to some extent, comes from your own work," he says. "If you come away from college with how to learn, you can do whatever you want."
Weigand has lived this advice firsthand. After receiving his bachelor of science in chemistry at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, he went to work at an Austin environmental firm. At that firm, Weigand was inspired to increase his knowledge in the field in which he was most passionate. He attended graduate school at the University of Arkansas and earned his doctorate in inorganic chemistry. "My studies were fun because I had a great advisor and my research went very well. Outside of teaching at Southwestern, it was one of the best experiences I have ever had," he says.
Before Weigand began his teaching career, he was able to add some non-academic experience to his resume. After his graduate studies, he began working for Halliburton Services where he developed chemicals that would control the set time of cement when casing oil and gas wells. He then took this experience to Cambridge, Massachusetts to work for W.R. Grace. "Using my background in organic materials, I was responsible for developing additives to make cement more adhesive and generally improve the cement properties," he says.
Following his stint in Massachusetts, Weigand and his family moved back to Austin, where he began teaching at Austin Community College. He was able to obtain a part-time teaching position at Southwestern, but did not stay for long as he moved again to teach at Penn State University. After teaching there, he returned once again to teach in Georgetown. Weigand is an assistant professor of chemistry and is the director of general chemistry labs. Throughout all the courses he teaches, he brings in his outside experiences in the work force to make his curriculum more satisfying to his students. "I really enjoy academics; it is much more satisfying than industrial chemistry. You get immediate feedback on how well you are doing with students and for me, it gives me a sense of doing something worthwhile," he says.
Incorporating learning with his outside activities, Weigand spends time researching copper and phosphorus compounds. "I will have some research with students this summer with Southwestern's Welch summer research program," he says. This program is designed to engage students in a scientific learning community composed of students and faculty, to aid in their development of necessary skills, and to create awareness of important scientific issues and career choices. Outside of specific chemistry research, Weigand has worked at Georgetown's Inner Space Caverns giving tours and working the concessions stand. He also spends time playing tennis, teaching a Sunday school class for his church, and being with his wife and daughter.
—Laura Brown '07
