Dr. Kathleen Richardson

Dr. Kathleen Richardson
Professor and Director
School of Materials Science and Engineering
Clemson University
Clemson, SC

Dr. Kathleen Richardson is currently Professor and Director, of the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Clemson University, Clemson, SC.   She joined the Clemson team in January 2005, following her previous post as Associate Professor of Optics, Chemistry and Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Central Florida's, CREOL/FPCE, College of Optics and Photonics, where she was for 12 years. Following a leave of absence at SCHOTT North America, Regional R&D in Duryea PA, where she served as manager of their Materials Development and Technologies groups since January 2002, Dr. Richardson returned to UCF to continue her research and academic training activities which include numerous domestic and international programs associated with undergraduate and graduate education and training.   Dr. Richardson joined UCF in 1992 following several years at the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics where she conducted research on ion-exchange strengthened laser glass, passive and active liquid crystal-based optics and sol gel-derived materials.   All of her academic degrees are from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University.

Dr. Richardson currently runs the Glass Processing and Characterization Laboratory (GPCL) within the Center for Optical Materials Science Engineering and Technology (COMSET) where her team carries out synthesis and characterization of novel glass and glass ceramic materials for optical applications.   Her research programs examine the role of structure/property relationships in a range of glass and ceramic media used in optical applications, including bulk, planar and fiber IR materials and devices for use in chemical sensing, molded optics, and applications utilizing photo-induced property modification. She has authored more than 85 refereed publications, proceedings and book chapters, organized and chaired numerous domestic and international meetings within her discipline, is currently Chair of the Glass and Optical Materials Division of the American Ceramic Societies and Vice President of the National Institute of Ceramic Engineers (NICE).   She is a recognized world leader in infrared glass research, is a Fellow of the Society of Glass Technology (2002) and of the American Ceramic Society (2006).   Additionally, in May 2006, she was elected to Alfred University's Board of Trustees.