Current instructor

Jack Williams

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 3.95/5 from 59 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

What students say

Original student reviews · all captured dates

ENVIR120 · course not matched
Quality 2/5Difficulty 3/5
I found the lectures to be extremely boring and uninteresting. For physical sciences requirement, I'd choose a different course. Attendance in discussion is a large portion of the grade.
Rate My Professors ↗
ENVIRST/GEOG 120
Quality 3/5Difficulty 3/5
Professor Williams was very nice, caring, and smart. You could tell that he really knew his stuff, and all of his research and experience is very fascinating. The class itself is a little bit difficult with a lot of content, and it was very easy to lose attention. I engaged with the TA way more than him, as our TAs did more work engaging with us.
Rate My Professors ↗
GEO120 · course not matched
Quality 4/5Difficulty 3/5
The professor was very nice and caring. Lectures were decent but the professor often ran out of time. The class doesn't have a ton of homework and discussion worksheets are pretty easy and a big percent of the grade, which can help boost it. Tests were all multiple choice but were made up of specific details/scenarios that you are unlikely to know.
Rate My Professors ↗
GEO335 · course not matched
Quality 4/5Difficulty 4/5
He is definitely knowledgeable/passionate about the subject. The lectures are long, and there is not much text on slides, so you must pay attention and write notes as lecture goes. No attendance, but you likely will not pass if you don't attend lectures. He didn't record lectures this year, not sure if he normally does or doesn't. VERY slow grader.
Rate My Professors ↗
GEO120 · course not matched
Quality 1/5Difficulty 4/5
Took this class for a physical science credit and this is one of the hardest classes i've taken. His lectures are all over the place, he always runs out of time. Tests are extremely difficult. TA's are not helpful. Grading distribution is not given for the class at all so you have no idea what letter grade you're gonna get. Do not take this class.
Rate My Professors ↗
GEO120 · course not matched
Quality 4/5Difficulty 2/5
I liked Professor Williams and I enjoyed learning about this class as most concepts were unfamiliar to me. There are 4 exams and you definitely have to study the lecture material for a few hours before but his lecture slides are all well done and super helpful, he also posts lectures online. Great class, you definitely get out what you put in.
Rate My Professors ↗

Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with Jack Williams

ENVIRST 990

Research

1–12 credits

Independent research and writing course titled RESEARCH, focused on fulfilling thesis or dissertation requirements.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Karen StrierPaul Block+56 more

No recorded grade history

ENVIRST/GEOG 120

Introduction to the Earth System

3 credits

Introduction to how the Earth system works and what makes Earth livable; covers interactions among atmosphere, oceans, life, and Earth's surface shaping local, regional, and global landscapes.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Jack Williams

Jack Williams taught the first half of the semester, and one student said two of the class's four exams covered his material. Students reported exams were mainly lecture-based, though one said they were 90% lecture/10% textbook and another said test material was basically all covered in lecture. One said he talked fast, and another said it was easy to lose attention.

Jack WilliamsErika Marin-Spiotta

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026
GEOG 475

Topics in Geography

1–4 credits

Explores emerging topics in Geography.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Jack WilliamsAlmita Miranda+1 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Spring 2025 · limited sample
GEOG 682

Senior Honors Thesis

2–3 credits

Individual mentored study for seniors completing theses for Honors in the Major, arranged with a faculty member.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Song GaoRobert Roth+13 more

No recorded grade history

GEOG 699

Directed Study

1–3 credits

Directed Study is an independent study course arranged with a faculty member.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=1 letter grades).

Song GaoStephen Young+16 more

No recorded grade history

Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Spring 2027ENVIRST 990Research
Spring 2027ENVIRST/GEOG 120Introduction to the Earth System
Spring 2027GEOG 475Topics in Geography
Spring 2027GEOG 681Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2027GEOG 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2027GEOG 691Senior Thesis
Spring 2027GEOG 692Senior Thesis
Spring 2027GEOG 699Directed Study
Spring 2027GEOG 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2027GEOG 999Independent Work
Fall 2026ENVIRST/GEOG 120Introduction to the Earth System
Fall 2026GEOG 523Advanced Paleoecology: Species Responses to Past Environmental Change
Fall 2026GEOG 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2026GEOG 699Directed Study
Fall 2026GEOG 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2026GEOG 999Independent Work

Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.

Instructor identity & provenance 
{
  "instructor_uid": "instructor_2b67bd5e781ff0835210fc99",
  "source": "enrollment",
  "source_instructor_id": "jwwilliams1",
  "identity_basis": "netid",
  "identity_status": "source_identified",
  "name": "Jack Williams",
  "email": "JWWILLIAMS1@WISC.EDU",
  "first_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
  "last_observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00",
  "ratings": {
    "review_count": 59,
    "quality": 3.95,
    "difficulty": 2.88,
    "quality_count": 59,
    "difficulty_count": 59,
    "profile_id": "rmp:809546",
    "source_url": "https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/809546",
    "match_basis": "exact_name",
    "observed_at": "2026-10-14 19:09:12.617502+00:00",
    "courses": {
      "course_b850d5b4746311f8d8c00fa2": {
        "review_count": 24,
        "quality": 4.17,
        "difficulty": 2.46,
        "quality_count": 24,
        "difficulty_count": 24
      },
      "course_0ab1d20e0a0bd3b0dca2922a": {
        "review_count": 2,
        "quality": 4.5,
        "difficulty": 3,
        "quality_count": 2,
        "difficulty_count": 2
      },
      "course_256f6b490c833ed87315abd3": {
        "review_count": 4,
        "quality": 4,
        "difficulty": 4,
        "quality_count": 4,
        "difficulty_count": 4
      }
    },
    "bayesian_quality": 3.876378121644676,
    "prior_mean": 3.65919358049647,
    "prior_weight": 20
  },
  "current": true,
  "courses": [
    {
      "course_uid": "course_38c6cf8054703ea185e02d9d",
      "course_id": "GEOG 699",
      "title": "DIRECTED STUDY",
      "credits_min": 1,
      "credits_max": 3,
      "gpa": 3.826
    },
    {
      "course_uid": "course_4fb957cd631133d941c9860b",
      "course_id": "GEOG 682",
      "title": "SENIOR HONORS THESIS",
      "credits_min": 2,
      "credits_max": 3,
      "gpa": 4
    },
    {
      "course_uid": "course_590f53e642fa9433232a332f",
      "course_id": "GEOG 999",
      "title": "INDEPENDENT WORK",
      "credits_min": 1,
      "credits_max": 3,
      "gpa": 4
    },
    {
      "course_uid": "course_60b16cd3510a89a9e4c7e1f5",
      "course_id": "ENVIRST 990",
      "title": "RESEARCH",
      "credits_min": 1,
      "credits_max": 12,
      "gpa": null
    },
    {
      "course_uid": "course_8752b645e0a4a2fab5924a9f",
      "course_id": "GEOG 691",
      "title": "SENIOR THESIS",
      "credits_min": 2,
      "credits_max": 3,
      "gpa": null
    },
    {
      "course_uid": "course_a3711445a11ea9b101636ef3",
      "course_id": "GEOG 990",
      "title": "RESEARCH AND THESIS",
      "credits_min": 1,
      "credits_max": 9,
      "gpa": null
    },
    {
      "course_uid": "course_b850d5b4746311f8d8c00fa2",
      "course_id": "ENVIRST/GEOG 120",
      "title": "INTRODUCTION TO THE EARTH SYSTEM",
      "credits_min": 3,
      "credits_max": 3,
      "gpa": 3.005
    },
    {
      "course_uid": "course_dfa44357e97d26094690a2b2",
      "course_id": "GEOG 692",
      "title": "SENIOR THESIS",
      "credits_min": 2,
      "credits_max": 3,
      "gpa": 4
    },
    {
      "course_uid": "course_e3914d01dd5bad2cb6c8b0ad",
      "course_id": "GEOG 681",
      "title": "SENIOR HONORS THESIS",
      "credits_min": 2,
      "credits_max": 3,
      "gpa": null
    },
    {
      "course_uid": "course_e5323d3900078270948c4142",
      "course_id": "GEOG 475",
      "title": "TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY",
      "credits_min": 1,
      "credits_max": 4,
      "gpa": 3.77
    }
  ],
  "revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
  "instructor_url": "/instructors/JACK_WILLIAMS"
}