Originally from Delaware, Mary Williams 82C was introduced to Emory through a family friend. When she arrived, she had a plan: study psychology and embrace Emory as her home for the next four years. It was “love at first sight!”

In her first week at Emory, she met two other students from Delaware, and after joining a sorority, her community of friends expanded. “I had no interest in joining a sorority, but I’m so glad I changed my mind,” Williams remembered. She is still close with her sorority sisters and meets up with them for occasional reunions.

Williams credits Emory with helping her find her way, thanks to experiential learning, leadership opportunities, and a strong sense of community. 

Inspired by her older brother whose career was in the rapidly growing oil and gas industry, Williams pursued a degree in geology. In addition to lectures and labs, Williams completed the required six-week Geology Field Camp course during the summer of 1981 in Ringgold, Georgia. 

“I learned so much from geology classes and labs, but fieldwork with other students validated the importance of teamwork, a skill that helped me to succeed in my career and is still important today,” she said. 

After graduating, Williams started her career as a geoscientist in Oklahoma before moving to Houston, Texas. She stayed highly engaged with Emory, serving as president of the Houston chapter of the Emory Alumni Association from 1990 to 1995. During her tenure, the Houston chapter continued to grow and now has 1,000+ members. From 2005 to 2011, Williams served on the Emory Alumni Board. As an active alumna, she spent numerous hours interviewing prospective students from Houston. Her commitment to preserving and furthering the Emory legacy for students, faculty members, and programs remains very important to her. 

As a 2O36 campaign leader, she worked to ensure that more students will have an Emory experience like hers.