David Williams
Visiting Professor of Environmental Studies
Offices & Programs
Education
BA - Bethel University
MA - San Francisco State University
Ph.D. - University of Utah
BIOGRAPHY
David Williams is a Visiting Professor of Environmental Studies. Prior to joining the Centre faculty, he taught in, directed, and developed study away programs in the Sierra that integrate interdisciplinary humanities courses with wilderness immersion and outdoor adventure experiences (High Sierra Semester, 2006 - 2018, and the Tahoe Semester, 2018 - 2023). He is certified as a Wilderness First Responder, Nevada Wilderness Search and Rescue Technician II, and a member of the Mountain Rescue Association.
Trained as a philosopher, Williams specializes in ancient Greek thought focusing on Aristotle’s philosophy of biology. His work has been published by Cambridge and Routledge and he is currently working on an introduction to Aristotle's philosophy of nature. He is the co-leader for a John Templeton Foundation grant, “Women in Science & Humanities: Creating a Mentoring Community of Women at the Interface of Science & Religion” ($248,000).
At Centre, Williams teaches courses that integrate the liberal arts and outdoor experiences: ENS 285 Outdoor Leadership and the Liberal Arts, HUM227 Lake Tahoe: Theory and Practice of the Natural World (a CentreTerm January course), as well as Doctrina Lux Mentis I, II, and III, and PHI 135 Philosophy of Nature.
Williams earned a B.A. in philosophy from Bethel University, an M.A. in philosophy from San Francisco State University, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Utah.