Undergraduate Research Spotlight | Kathleen M Williams

Kathleen Williams has always been a storyteller; with a background in theatre, she was naturally drawn to micro-narratives when it came to her research. She found that history did not always tell the stories that she was most interested in and appreciated that micro-narratives allowed historians to ask questions about daily life, particularly in Middle Eastern history.

“My interest in storytelling has always been rooted in stories that feel less common and that teach us about something bigger.”  

Williams decided to write her thesis through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program on Aziz S. Atiya, an Egyptian historian and founder of the Middle East Center at the University of Utah. She was able to follow her curiosity in part because his papers are part of an extensive research collection named after him—the Aziz S. Atiya Collection for Middle East Studies, housed in the J. Willard Marriott Library. Although she had no prior experience with historical research, she had two mentors along the way, Professor Chris Low, and Professor Annie Green, who were “instrumental at every step of this process,” she added. Through her thesis process she loved learning more about Atiya and writing about him, despite not knowing much about him when she chose him as her research topic.

Williams found her thesis research a beneficial educational experience and advises all undergraduate students to seek out research opportunities. She encourages undergraduate students who are intimidated to put themselves out there to “seek it all out!”  Williams says that once you chip away at it bit by bit, those scary new experiences will become easier.

Learn more about the Middle East Center at the U.