The management department would like to highlight faculty member Dr. David Williamson.

Dr. David Williamson is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Management Department. He teaches courses in Management, Project Management, Consulting, and Analytics. Dr. Williamson received his undergraduate degree in computer science from the University of Virginia, where he met his wife Lynn and where their daughter Ashley also attended. He worked in technology marketing in the Washington, DC. area for several years before enrolling at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill to pursue his MBA. It was there he discovered his passion for teaching. After his MBA, Dr. Williamson worked in consulting and project management in the Atlanta area, eventually moving back to Roanoke when his daughter was in elementary school. In the Roanoke area, Dr. Williamson continued working in consulting and project management while teaching part-time at Mary Baldwin, Virginia Western, and UVA-Wise and pursuing his PhD at Capella University. After completing his PhD, Dr. Williamson taught remotely for Walden University and Colorado State University before joining Virginia Tech in 2014 as an instructor in Continuing and Professional Education. In Fall 2020, he became an Adjunct Instructor for the Management Department, and in Fall 2021, he joined the Department full time. Dr. Williamson says he is excited to work with Professor Dirk Buengel and others to help expand course offerings in Project Management, Consulting, and Analytics, and increase connections between students and potential employers.

Dr. Williamson’s favorite part of his job is teaching and interacting with students. He says there is nothing more fun than helping students learn something they can use to improve their lives and then improve the lives of others. He says for him, the three most important traits of a good teacher are loving your students, loving your topics, and loving the process of learning and teaching. In his free time, Dr. Williamson likes to sail, kayak, backpack, and hike with family and friends. Ironically, his favorite restaurant in Roanoke is Beamer’s 25.

Dr. Williamson says he is honored to be at Virginia Tech because of its outstanding reputation and its mission of serving the community, the state, and the world.  He says he appreciates how Virginia Tech focuses on practical application of research and knowledge to help solve real world problems.

When asked what advice he would give to incoming Pamplin freshmen, he said “Take advantage of getting to know your professors; we’re here to help you figure out college, your interests, and where you might like to work. We’re here for you, let us help you.”