Meet PSIA Communications Assistant Ceres Williams
As the PSIA department heads into the 2026-2027 academic school year, we welcome a new communications assistant: Ceres Williams, a senior majoring in International Affairs with a concentration in Latin America.
Since her arrival to the PSIA community in 2023, she has participated in numerous courses that have furthered her understanding of global issues, politics of development, and national security. Reflecting on her past coursework, Ceres credits PSIA professors such as Dr. Cristian Harris, Dr. Raluca Viman-Miller, Dr. Laurel Wei, and Dr. Seyed Hamid Serri as providing her with the analytical skills necessary to assess complex and sensitive issues as she aims to finish her last academic year strong and look toward a future career within International Affairs.
Aside from the invaluable academic knowledge and strong research skills the Department has helped her acquire, Ceres also expresses a deep gratitude for the international traveling and internship opportunities IA has brought her. In Summer ‘25, Ceres’ regional concentration took her to Peru where she spent five weeks living with a host family, attending la Universidad Andina del Cusco, and honing her Spanish speaking capabilities all while taking in Peru’s rich landscape, historical background, and culture. She was also a Gilman Scholarship recipient, which she says, “was a blessing that took an immense financial stress off of my shoulders and made my academic dreams seem more attainable”. She attributes her successful journey abroad to the support from individuals such as Dahlonega Spanish professor Dr. Alvaro Torres-Calderón, Dr. Victoria Hightower who guided the focus of her scholarship application, and coordinators at the UNG Center for Global Engagement.
Upon returning stateside, Ceres’ focus turned toward completing an internship in order to fulfill the second portion of her IA major requirements. She headed to Winder, GA where she completed an internship with Adult Literacy Barrow, a nonprofit organization that promotes adult education and language acquisition through specialized ESL courses, GED programs, and citizenship courses. At her internship, Ceres says she was “immersed in the world of nonprofit”, where her experiences working with individuals from all kinds of backgrounds widened her eyes and participating in community outreach initiatives broadened her social and professional horizons. Altogether, she feels as if her experiences reiterate the importance of diversity, communication, and adaptability “not just as an IA student but as an individual and future professional”.
In anticipation of starting her new job as the PSIA department’s 2026-2027 communication assistant, Ceres is eager to face a role that will challenge her and allow her to apply herself in areas that matter most. Ceres shared a short anecdote that at first, upon graduating high school, she did not see herself pursuing further education. However, with encouragement from her family, and a tour of the UNG Dahlonega campus, she knew that this was the place for her to be. An informative conversation with PSIA Department Head, Dr. Craig Greathouse, solidified her decision to join the university as an International Affairs major. Now, Ceres looks toward the opportunity to not only work under the Department, but alongside it, in its efforts to attract others to PSIA just as she once was some years ago.