ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Where I Learned to Think
JIM WILLIAMS (C' 62), HONORED WITH THE DAVID K. ANDREWS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD IN 2024, IS AN ACCOMPLISHED ENGINEER, ENTREPRENEUR, AND LIFELONG LEARNER WHOSE JOURNEY REFLECTS THE PROFOUND IMPACT OF HIS WHOLE-PERSON PRINCIPIA EDUCATION.
A lifelong Christian Scientist, Williams’s path was set when his mother encouraged him to attend Principia College. A transformative visit to the College chapel his junior year of high school left him captivated; the communal spirit and the way Principia taught him to think made it feel like a second home, one that would shape his entire future.
Jim, his wife, Barbara (Betscher) Williams (C’62), two of their three children, and five of their grandchildren are proud Principia alumni, with a sixth grandchild scheduled to graduate in December. Although the College didn’t offer a traditional engineering program, Jim loved the educational and Christian Science environment so much he chose to pursue a four-year degree in physics over the standard two-year engineering pathway that would lead him to another university. Principia highlights for Jim included the intimate class sizes and deep, probing discussions with professors who challenged him to think critically rather than simply accepting answers at face value. And, of course, meeting and falling in love with his future wife, Barbara. “First date we had, I knew she was the one,” Jim shares.
After graduation, Jim’s career took off as he navigated early challenges with roles at North American Aviation. His defining professional chapter began with a twenty-five-year tenure at Hughes Aircraft Company, where he applied his skills to develop crucial radar systems. It was during this period that a divine flash of insight led him to create a proposal for an interferometer—a breakthrough radar technology that is proving to be a game changer in reducing cost while improving the effectiveness of missile defense systems. In a memorable moment of leadership, Jim scheduled a prayer meeting during testing difficulties at White Sands Missile Range, an event that underscored his belief in the power of listening—“to others and to divine ideas from God.”
Through his career and personal life, Jim continues to advocate for the unique and transformative education he received at Principia, urging current students to embrace every opportunity for the deep, reflective learning he experienced at the College. “Principia teaches you how to think, and that never becomes obsolete.”