Teacher-Scholar Legacies: Natalie Holzwarth
By Daniel Kim-Shapiro, Harbert Family Distinguished Chair of Physics
When Dr. Bill Kerr met Dr. Natalie Holzwarth at the airport in 1983 for her interview, he recounts that he had to run to catch up to her on the way to the car. He adds that she immediately demonstrated her complete eagerness and devotion to being a professor of Physics at Wake Forest, where she has been ever since.
She has seemed to always be on campus, either teaching the hardest physics classes or working on her NSF-funded research. One day, when I took my family to play in the snow outside of Olin Physical Lab when campus was closed, I joked that the only person in the building might be Natalie. Nobody was there, but on the way home, there she was, trudging through the snow to get to work on foot as she usually did.
Dr. Rick Matthews was a longtime colleague of Natalie and wrote:
Natalie Holzwarth is one of the leading scholars in computational modeling of materials. Her work centers on the use of density functional theory (DFT) to determine the structure and behavior of promising materials for many applications, including novel next-generation batteries. Using sophisticated computational methods that she has shared with others, Natalie has been able to guide scientists toward the most promising substances as they seek improved battery materials. This sharing is emblematic of all her professional interactions. She is quick to lend her time and intellect in serving the needs of her department, the University, and her field. For many years, she organized the weekly colloquium series for the Department of Physics. Her students commended her willingness to provide abundant one-on-one assistance to them in their studies.
Dr. Oana Jurchescu adds:
Natalie’s intellectual passion was matched by her genuine care for others. Her office was a hub of intense discussion and deep thought but also a place of welcoming warmth. At the center, Natalie, always ready with a smile, an insightful question, and a kind word for everyone. She was always generous with her time dedicated to her students; she sat with them for hours, not just solving equations, but offering words of wisdom and a much-needed perspective shift, all delivered with her signature gentle encouragement. She never gave up on her students, and they knew it. Her door was always open, and her advice was always delivered with a warmth that made everyone feel at ease. Natalie invested her heart and soul into each student, fostering a sense of intellectual belonging and inspiring a love of Physics.
Her former graduate students shared similar sentiments. Dr. Jason Howard wrote:
Dr. Holzwarth was a very patient and supportive mentor to work with. She allowed a great deal of academic freedom to explore a project and approach it in one’s own way. I can only say it was a magical time in my life to wake up every day and tackle my projects. I really enjoyed coming to Dr. Holzwarth office and scribble stuff on the whiteboard and talk through a project until things started coming together. I can’t thank her and the department enough for providing such a supportive environment for doing research. Another thing to mention is her insistence on prioritizing being correct and thorough compared to publishing as fast as one could.
And Dr. Yan Li adds:
It was a true privilege to be Professor Natalie Holzwarth’s graduate student. Her ever-present smile, always filled with kindness, is a memory I believe we all treasure. I cherish every moment we spent together. She was always there to offer guidance and support, patiently listened to my ideas, encouraged my explorations, and was genuinely joyful for me with each of my small steps forward. ‘Careful research’ was one of her most frequent phrases, and I deeply admire her passion and dedication to science, values I strive to carry in my own scientific endeavors.
These thoughts are echoed by her former undergraduate student Xinran (Hannah) Zhang, who wrote, “It was a privilege to be mentored by Professor Natalie Holzwarth. Her dedication to teaching, passion for lifelong learning, and commitment to research have been incredibly inspiring. I am forever grateful for the time spent with Dr. Holzwarth and the opportunity to learn from her.”
Natalie was an integral part of the department and the University during her 42 years on the faculty. She served on the University Senate and other important committees, organized the Physics Department weekly colloquium series and condensed matter seminar series, and always put in her two cents at department meetings and deliberations. For many years, she and her husband, Professor George Holzwarth, held a summer picnic at their house and invited the whole department, as well as friends of the department.
Natalie Holzwarth’s impact on the Wake Forest community and beyond is enormous. Her dedication to her students, her field, and her colleagues leaves behind a legacy of excellence, kindness, and an unwavering commitment to the pursuit of knowledge that will continue to inspire generations to come.