Ashleen M. Williams

I am an Instructional Assistant Professor at the University of Mississippi who strives to create a more inclusive community. I'm particularly interested in questions of power and citizenship. 

I am the faculty advisor to the University of Mississippi's First-Gen Student Network. I earned my Ph.D. in History while working full-time. From 2016 to 2023, I was the Senior Barksdale Fellow at  the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College (SMBHC) where I taught freshman honors seminars, and upperdivision courses in public policy and international relations.  Before that, I worked at the Center for Gulf Studies at Qatar University, and studied Arabic as a Georgetown-Qatar Fellow at Qatar University. I also conducted research at the Yemen College for Middle East studies in Sana’a.

As a 2013 Mitchell Scholar, I studied for at the University of Ulster for my M.Sc. in Applied Peace and Conflict Studies.  My thesis was Writing on the Walls: Examination of the Contestation of Space in Bahrain through Graffiti and Social Media, a study I began while holding a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Bahrain.  As an undergraduate at the University of Montana, I earned her B.A. in Political Science and History.  I have published in The Journal of Honors in Practice and Peacebuilding, as well as other journals, and presented at international conferences in the United States, United Kingdom, and the Middle East Region. I am the proud recipient of the University of Mississippi's Frist Award, an IHL Excellence in Diversity award, a UM Diversity Innovator award, the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award, and a University of Montana Grizzly of the Last decade award.  I was awarded Fulbright Research award to Kuwait in 2022 and a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Bahrain in 2011. I am a member of the University of Montana's Craig Circle, a friend of the Davidson Honors College, and a passionate fan of Unviersity of Montana football. I am a Memphis Grizzlies enthusiast. 

Blog

B.A. Political Science, the University of Montana

M.Sc. Applied Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ulster

Ph.D. History, University of Mississippi

Flagship First-Gen: First-Generation College Students at the University of Mississippi 

"First Generation College Student Network" in the Journal of Honors in Practice, co-authored with Ainsley Ash (2021) 

Book review: Merging Fires in the Journal of Peacebuilding (2015) 

Book Review: Gulfization of the Arab World (2019) 

Williams, A., Coleman, R., Mannery, J., Kimmons, K. (2022) “Collecting Credentials and Combating Imposter Syndrome" in Harper, G. (ed) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Honors Education. 

Saldana, M., Williams, A. (2018) “Cambio y continuidad en el Bahréin post-Primavera Árabe,” in Galindo, A. Voces, Tramas Y Trayectorias: Transiciones Criticas; The University of Monterray Press

Publications & Projects

"Two UM Employees Honored for Service to Students" by Edwin Smith

"Six UM Students Awarded Fulbright Scholarships" by Staff Report

"Diversity Innovator Award Recipients for 2022 Announced"

"Williams nominated for IHL Excellence in Diversity Award" by JB Clark

"History Student Awarded Prestigious Fellowship" by Edwin Smith

"Doctoral Student Receives Prominent Future Leaders Award" by Edwin Smith 

Grizzly of the Last Decade - 2021 recipients 

Ashleen M. Williams

Ashleen M. Williams

Historian & Writer | The University of Mississippi

Middle East History, First-Generation College Students, Access & Equity

Publications & Projects