Andrew B. Williams, Ph.D., is a Professor and the John P. Raynor, S.J., Distinguished Chair of Electrical & Computer Engineering at Marquete University. Dr. Williams joined Marquette University in 2012 after serving as Department Chair in Computer and Information Sciences at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA and Research Affiliate at Georgia Institute of Technology in the Human-Automation Systems Lab. He earned a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in AI from the University of Kansas in 1999, M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering from Marquette University in 1995, and B.S. in Electrical Engineering from University of Kansas in 1988. Dr. Williams directs the Humanoid Engineering & Intelligent Robotics (HEIR) Lab.

Research

Dr. Williams' research interests are in humanoid robotics and AI, intelligent humanoid coaches, and cooperative autonomous systems. His research aims to develop the theory and engineering principles for humanoid robots to cooperate intuitively with humans and other robots using learning and social cognitive theory. Dr. Williams is also a recognized leader in broadening participating for women and underrepresented minorities in computing and STEM education. Dr. Williams founded the SpelBots and the Advancing Robotics Technology for Societal Impact Alliance. His research and education funding has included support from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, NASA, Apple, Boeing, General Motors, General Electric and Google.

Selected Publications

• “Towards Creative Humanoid Conceptualization Learning from Metaphor-Guided Pretense Play”, Creativity and (Early) Cognitive Development: A Perspective from Artificial Creativity, Developmental AI, and Robotics, AAAI Spring Symposium, Stanford University, AAAI Press, pp. 79-83, 2013.
• “Sequential Auctions for Heterogeneous Task Allocations” (with G.T. Thomas), IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, & Cybernetics, 2009.
• Out of the Box: Building Robots, Transforming Lives (with E. Gilbreath), Moody Publishers and Institute for Black Family Development, Chicago, 2009.
• “SpelBots: Using Autonomous Robotics to Inspire Women to Participate in Computer Science” (with Whitney O'Banner), Using AI to Motivate Greater Participation in Computer Science, AAAI Spring Symposium, Stanford University, AAAI Press, 2008.
• “IDOCS: Intelligent Distributed Ontology Consensus System - The Use of Machine Learning in Retinal Drusen Phenotyping,” (with G. Thomas, M.A. Grassi, J.R. Lee, A.O. Edwards, M.B. Gorin, R., Klein, T.L. Casavant, T.E. Scheetz, E.M. Stone), Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, 2007.
• “Learning to Share Meaning in a Multi-Agent Systems” J. of Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, vol. 8, no. 2, 165-193, 2004.

Teaching

• EECE 2710 Intro to Computer Hardware and Software
• EECE 5690 Developments in Computer Applications - Humanoid-Robot Interaction
  (Spring 2013)

Honors and Awards

• 50 Most Important African Americans in Technology
• IEEE Computer Society Distinguished Speaker
• National Academy of Engineering Frontiers in Engineering Participant
• GEM Consortium Alumni Mentoring Award
• Marquette University Young Engineering Alumni Award