Dr. Kenneth I. Golden has been appointed to the Williams Professorship of Mathematics. Created in 1853, the Williams Professorship honors Azarias Williams of Concord, Vermont, a merchant and judge, and native of Sheffield, England, who in 1839 deeded to the University extensive land holdings. Golden, professor of mathematics, engineering (secondary appointment) and physics (secondary appointment), has a long and distinguished scholarly record in the areas of electrodynamics, statistical mechanics and kinetic theory of charged-particle systems, strongly coupled plasma physics/condensed matter plasmas, and applied mathematics. He has degrees from:
  • Northwestern University: BS, Mechanical Engineering
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology: SM, Mechanical Engineering
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Professional Degree, Mechanical Engineering
  • Institut Henri Poincaré: Dr. Univ. Paris (mention très honorable), Mécanique Théorique
Professor Golden has also held visiting appointments at the Australian National University, the University of Paris-Orsay, Oxford University, the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (Trieste, Italy), and the University of New South Wales to name a few. His accomplishments include being named: Fellow, American Physical Society; Fellow, Institute of Physics (UK); Fellow, Australian Institute of Physics; Senior Fulbright Scholar to Australia; University Scholar in the Basic and Applied Sciences; and College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences Distinguished Professor. "I love mathematics and its applications to theoretical physics," says Golden. "To get to do what you love is rewarding in itself. But then to be acknowledged for it is frosting on the cake." "Recognition at this level affirms the value our faculty provide to this institution and to our students," says Domenico Grasso, Dean of the UVM College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences. "Our congratulations go to Dr. Golden on this award." The Williams Professorship appointment will be officially presented to Professor Golden on November 30, 2007, by the UVM Board of Trustees' Standing Committee.