Apr 16, 2026 Student’s Undergraduate Research Illuminates the Life of Dr. Aziz Atiya
Kathleen Williams isn’t your typical Honors undergraduate; she has broad interest in a variety of studies. She majored in Theatre up until the second semester of her junior year, at which time she changed her major to Middle East Studies.
When she learned about the Aziz S. Atiya Middle East Library, she became fascinated with the story of how it became part of the Marriott Library. This became the basis for her Honors Thesis project which was funded by the Undergraduate Research Opportunity (UROP). Consequently, Kathleen found herself in Special Collections, immersed in the materials that describe the life of Dr. Aziz S. Atiya and how he built one of the largest Middle East collections in the world.
What Kathleen learned from this project – and what is evidenced in her poster – is there is more to the story than what is described in news clippings and such.
Her project focuses on the forces that pushed him toward Utah and way from Egypt, arguing that Egyptian nationalization, the National Defense in Education Act, and Utah’s unique interests were the primary outside factors influenced to do this. These connections were made through looking at Atiya’s own perspectives and from an understanding of other events taking place at the time.
What is it that Kathleen plans to do after graduating? “I’d love to find a job where I could put my love of Middle East studies to use while I decide about my next step will be.”
On April 30 Kathleen will graduate from the Honors Program with a major in Middle East Studies plus a minor in Psychology and a minor in Theatre.
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