{"582908":{"#nid":"582908","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Meet College of Sciences Alumnus Willie Rockward, Chair of Physics at Morehouse College","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs a young man, Willie S. Rockward loved football and physics. When football didn\u0026rsquo;t work out, physics was there for the long haul.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ERockward grew up in Louisiana, attending \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.morehouse.edu\/academics\/physics\/\u0022\u003ESouth Terrebonne High School\u003C\/a\u003E, in Houma. He now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, Michelle L. Rockward, and their seven children.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHe received a B.S. in Physics from \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gram.edu\/\u0022\u003EGrambling State University\u003C\/a\u003E, in Louisiana, in 1988. He completed an M.S. in Physics in 1991 at the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.albany.edu\/\u0022\u003EUniversity at Albany-SUNY\u003C\/a\u003E before attending Georgia Tech, where he earned an M.S. in Physics in 1994 and a Ph.D., Physics, in 1997.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ERockward is an associate professor of physics at \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.morehouse.edu\u0022\u003EMorehouse College\u003C\/a\u003E, which he joined in 1998. His research focus is nanolithography. Among his research collaborators is Tech\u0026rsquo;s \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/faculty\/tsukruk\u0022\u003EVladimir Tsuruk\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 2011, Rockward became chair of Morehouse College\u0026rsquo;s \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.morehouse.edu\/academics\/physics\/\u0022\u003EDepartment of Physics and Dual-Degree Engineering Program\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Rockward, Morehouse has about 2,100 students; all are men, and 93% are African-American. About 80 students are physics majors, and about 185 are in the dual-degree engineering program, in which students spend three years in Morehouse and two years in a partner engineering institution, such as Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMorehouse, Rockward says, has \u0026ldquo;the most productive dual-degree engineering program in the country\u0026rdquo; and is the \u0026ldquo;top producer of underrepresented minorities with bachelor degrees in physics.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat attracted you to study in Georgia Tech? \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EI fell into physics because I wanted to play football at Grambling for coach \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.robinsonmuseum.com\/pages\/bio.php\u0022\u003EEddie Robinson\u003C\/a\u003E, the most winning collegiate football coach at the time. Grambling offered me a physics scholarship, which I took so I can play football. When a linebacker hit me during a practice session, I decided to stick with physics.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAfter Grambling, I was accepted at Georgia Tech, MIT, and Stanford. But I felt as though I wasn\u0026rsquo;t quite ready to go straight to a high-powered graduate program. So I went to Albany.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ETech had all the right parameters: great academic history and prestige; Atlanta was a booming city with good weather. I\u0026rsquo;m a Louisiana boy; the weather in MIT and SUNY was too cold; Stanford was on the West Coast, too far from family.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is the most important thing you learned while at Georgia Tech?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHard work always pays off. Tech professors pushed us to make choices that reflect what we want to do.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFor example, in fall 1990, the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.ramblinwreck.com\/\u0022\u003EYellow Jackets\u003C\/a\u003E were undefeated. I had classical mechanics at 8:30 a.m. on Mondays, and Dr. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.physics.gatech.edu\/user\/martin-flannery\u0022\u003ERaymond Flannery\u003C\/a\u003E would always give an assignment on the Friday before. The homework was so difficult that you could not afford to attend a weekend football game.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWe thought he was being mean. But I realized that for him, if you really want to do physics, you will make the sacrifices to do well. It\u0026rsquo;s the same lesson I teach my students and children.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDr. Flannery also gave me confidence. When I didn\u0026rsquo;t pass my comprehensives the first time, he told me, \u0026ldquo;Rockward, I know you can do it. Hold your head up, study and work hard, you\u0026rsquo;ll do well next time.\u0026rdquo; I couldn\u0026rsquo;t believe hearing those words from him. His gave me confidence to keep pressing forward.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EI remember Dr. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.physics.gatech.edu\/user\/brian-kennedy\u0022\u003EBrian Kennedy\u003C\/a\u003E. He taught courses in electricity and magnetism. Very young then, he presented the subject so simply that I had a \u0026ldquo;born again\u0026rdquo; experience that opened my complete understanding of Maxwell\u0026rsquo;s equations.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EI got married while at Tech. Starting a family slowed my studies, but I learned that academia gives you flexibility of time. You can select the time to use for family and work.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is a vivid memory of your time at Georgia Tech?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EI never saw a game of the undefeated Tech football team in 1990-91. However, I felt a sense of belonging among other students who, like me, had to work long hours. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EI was one of the first teaching assistants in \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.ceismc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ECEISMC\u003C\/a\u003E. That\u0026rsquo;s where I learned that I love to teach.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow did you get to your current position? \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWhile at Tech, I was also a part-time scientist in \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.eglin.af.mil\/\u0022\u003EEglin Air Force Base\u003C\/a\u003E, working with laser radar and guided munitions. In 1998 I joined Morehouse as a tenure-track assistant professor. My Tech thesis adviser, Dr. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.physics.gatech.edu\/user\/donald-c.-o\u0027shea\u0022\u003EDonald O\u0026rsquo;Shea\u003C\/a\u003E, helped me set up my lab by donating his photolithography equipment.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen Morehouse searched for a physics chair, I put my name in the hat. They selected me.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat do you like most about your current job? The least?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EI like to interact with students and faculty. As a recruiter of students for Morehouse, I visit math and science schools across the nation. I sense who will come, and when they are here, I see them grow.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EI like paperwork the least. Parents also can be a challenge. Some have not learned to let their sons grow up. Being a parent, too, I can understand.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat has been the greatest challenge in your professional life so far? \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBalancing family and work, especially when I need to focus on work. I\u0026rsquo;m also an ordained minister, and I served as a pastor for 11 years. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EI make sure to delegate responsibilities. I communicate with my wife, and I set deadlines on those periods when I have to be intensely focused on something.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat has been the most gratifying experience of your professional career so far? \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EGetting tenure, in 2008, was very rewarding.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EI have influenced more than 100 students to study graduate-level physics or engineering. At least 20 have obtained the Ph.D. To see them come back and engage with me is deeply satisfying.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you could have taken an alternative career path, what would you be doing instead?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EI\u0026rsquo;d be in physics still. My high-school physics teacher, Mr. Paul Johnson, really turned me on. Experiments with lasers and optics just blew my mind. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat advice would you give to incoming first-year students at Georgia Tech?\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EYou have to change your study habits and master managing time quickly. Hard work always pays off. Sacrifice; do the extra work in math, physics, and engineering. The parties will be there when you finish.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u0026rsquo;s something about yourself that\u0026rsquo;s not obvious to your colleagues?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EI\u0026rsquo;m serving my second term as the national president of \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.sigmapisigma.org\/sigmapisigma\/about\u0022\u003ESigma Pi Sigma\u003C\/a\u003E, the physics honor society. It\u0026rsquo;s a great honor to serve. We are getting ready for the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.sigmapisigma.org\/sigmapisigma\/congress\/2016\u0022\u003E2016 Quadrennial Physics Congress\u003C\/a\u003E, in November, in San Francisco, the largest gathering of undergraduate physics students in the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you could have dinner with any person from history, whom would you invite? \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAlbert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., and Marie Curie.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMarie Curie is the only female two-time Nobel laureate, in chemistry and physics, yet we don\u0026rsquo;t know much about her personal life and interests.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAlbert Einstein is a good conversationalist who paid attention to what\u0026rsquo;s going on around him.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMartin Luther King Jr. speaks to the preacher side of me as I continue to embrace the balance between science and religion.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EI would like talk to them about \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/blacklivesmatter.com\/\u0022\u003EBlack Lives Matter\u003C\/a\u003E, modern phenomena in physics such as quantum computing, race relations, and the 2016 presidential elections.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Advice to students: Master managing time quickly"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs a young man, Willie S. Rockward loved football and physics. When football didn\u0026rsquo;t work out, physics was there for the long haul.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"As a young man, Willie S. Rockward loved football and physics. When football didn\u2019t work out, physics was there for the long haul."}],"uid":"32896","created_gmt":"2016-10-21 02:56:50","changed_gmt":"2016-10-26 16:08:40","author":"Matt Barr","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2016-10-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2016-10-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"582907":{"id":"582907","type":"image","title":"Willie Rockward with Morehouse students","body":null,"created":"1477018419","gmt_created":"2016-10-21 02:53:39","changed":"1477491775","gmt_changed":"2016-10-26 14:22:55","alt":"","file":{"fid":"222293","name":"rockward.crop_.Capture.PNG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/rockward.crop_.Capture.PNG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/rockward.crop_.Capture.PNG","mime":"image\/png","size":1189281,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/rockward.crop_.Capture.PNG?itok=HcbpfV1g"}}},"media_ids":["582907"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"}],"keywords":[{"id":"4896","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"172537","name":"Willie Rockward"},{"id":"9556","name":"Morehouse College"},{"id":"506","name":"alumni"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA. Maureen Rouhi\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDirector of Communications\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECollege of Sciences\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["maureen.rouhi@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}