T.H. Lee Williams, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research
Dean of the Graduate College
Regents Professor of Geography
Email: lwilliams@ou.edu

Lee was born and raised in Wales and received his undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Bristol.

After a stint doing Voluntary Service Overseas (the British Peace Corps) in the Caribbean, where he met and married his wife Naila, they returned to Bristol where he obtained his Ph.D. in geography, working in the then-new field of satellite remote sensing of natural resources. They moved to the U.S. in 1976, for a one-year postdoctoral research position at OU. This was followed by nine years on the faculty at the University of Kansas, and a return to OU in 1986. 

From 1990 to 1999 he served as Associate Dean of Geosciences. He also served as Director of the Oklahoma EPSCoR program and Director of Science and Technology Research for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education from 1994 to 1999. In this capacity he helped build research infrastructure and collaborative programs between the state's research universities.  He also directed K-12 education programs in the geosciences and geography that involved teachers and students across the state.

His current position as Graduate Dean and Vice-President for Research continue his interest in building broad-based research strengths that also further the university's educational mission.

Lee and Naila have three children.  Owen-John (27) and his wife Lindsey have two lovely twins Caydn and Avery, who prove that grandkids are your reward for having kids. Samantha (23)  and her husband Todd are happy newly-weds.   Gareth (20) is a sophomore at OU.  We are proud that all our kids are OU grads or students!

Lee's main hobby is racing motorcycles – vintage roadracing (’82 GPZ550), dirt bike cross-country racing (YZ450F), and Iron Butt endurance road touring (Kawasaki Concours).