Gerrell Williams ('09, BA, English)

This interview is with Mr. Gerrell Williams, a graduate of the Department of English at UTA.  

Why did you choose your major or field of study?  
I chose to be an English major because I was interested in learning more about great authors and great writings. I wanted to learn more of the nuance and thought that was involved in creating great works of fiction and gain a greater appreciation for literary works of art. I chose to minor in Philosophy because I wanted to learn more about logic, religion, and the intersection of how human thought has served as the foundation of modern civilization. The combination of studying English and Philosophy naturally led to being interested in law and wanting to attend law school.  

Did you receive a scholarship while at UTA? How did it help you? 
I received a scholarship through the McNair Scholars Program, and I felt like it was such a huge, powerful jolt to my academic career at UTA. It provided me with benefits that I previously didn’t have such as free tutoring, a personal laptop, and access to mentors that helped me in my academic journey. I was even able to travel to Wisconsin to do a presentation on my Lonesome Dove research project. These were all benefits that I would not have had without the scholarship.  

Any special memories about being a student at UTA?  
One of the more special memories I had at UTA was working with Dr. Peggy Kulescz on a summer project for the McNair Scholars Program. I wrote a research paper on Larry McMurtry’s novel, Lonesome Dove, that analyzed McMurtry’s deconstruction of traditional western archetypes. The project took about 3 months to complete and culminated in a presentation of my work to the UTA Friends of the Library. It was an awesome experience that I will forever be grateful for.  

What can graduating Liberal Arts students do to make themselves more marketable? 
I really think your professors are one of the greatest resources that students have. Professors can connect you to alumni who may have a similar background to you and can help mentor you in whatever path you choose. Doing this definitely helped my marketability. I also think being on LinkedIn is a great way to connect with alumni if your professors aren’t able to connect you directly.  

How has your Liberal Arts education helped get you where you are today? 
It helped me to become a better thinker. It helped me to challenge the status quo and question the nature of things so that I could try and make the world a better place, even when efforts feel minute at times. My Liberal Arts education helped me grow into being an adult and an overall better human.  

What drew you to your industry, and what has kept you there? 
My Liberal Arts education made me become more interested in law, policy, and social issues. This eventually led me to wanting to pursue a career in law, specifically in Environmental Law & Policy. I now work as an Associate General Counsel for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). I don’t think I would be at the NRDC today if it wasn’t for the great resources I had at UTA.  

What do you wish you knew when you were a Liberal Arts student at UTA? 
I would have saved my writings, textbooks, novels, etc. I really wish I could have held onto those things for nostalgic purposes. Don’t be so quick to sell those books to a used bookstore!  

If you are a College of Liberal Arts alum, please let us know by emailing liberalarts@uta.edu.