I grew up mostly in Los Angeles and Orange counties, received my undergraduate degree from UCI, and now have served over twenty years as a professor at UCI. This gives me a real appreciation of what Irvine offers to all of its constituency, including the undergraduate students. I know some professors both as colleauges and from having had a class from them.

As an undergraduate, I majored in party for two years and then asked myself where my interests really lay. Fortunately, a physics class had proven very exciting and thus the direction was chosen. Following two years of at least twenty units per quarter, I graduated and headed for graduate studies at Princeton University.

Five years later I emerged into the sunlight again, this time as an Assistant Professor at UCI rising to Full Professor in 1991. I have served the campus additionally as Acting Dean of Undergraduate Studies and as founder of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.

Doing experimental plasma physics at a research university is extremely rewarding. I get to be creative and discover new physical phenomena along with training others to become scientists. Outside of the lab, teaching and being Director of the CHP allows me to aid undergraduates in obtaining the best education for which they may strive.

Away from work, my wife and young daughters are a central force. Avocational interests center around surfing, saxophone, and, yes really, physics.

Professor McWilliams was recently featured in the Orange County Register.