Seaver College Professor Robert Williams Earns Ole R. Holsti Distinguished Scholar Award

Robert Williams, a professor of political science at Seaver College and dean of the Social Science Division, was recently honored with the Ole R. Holsti Distinguished Scholar Award from the International Studies Association West Region (ISA West). This achievement distinguishes Williams as an exceptional scholar, teacher, and mentor within the international studies community.

“This has been a wonderful award to receive, in large measure, because I feel so close to the people who are part of ISA West,” says Williams. “It represents recognition from a group of people I respect and for whom I have lots of affection. That makes it very special for me.”

As a political scientist, Williams has focused much of  his research around foreign relations and international politics. This scholarly specialty led him to get involved with ISA West during the early 2000s. Throughout his years of attending the organization’s regional meeting, Williams became increasingly engaged in its administration—eventually serving twice as the program chair and president of the conference on separate occasions. 

The Ole R. Holsti Distinguished Scholar Award pays tribute to Williams’ stewardship of the conference, as well as his achievements in the research field and classroom. Throughout his academic career, he has published a variety of books, book chapters, and journal articles—all of which center around human rights, international security, or arms control. While his work as a scholar is exemplary, Williams feels that serving as a mentor is his highest calling. 

“My goal as an academic is to encourage younger scholars—undergraduate students, graduate students, and early career researchers,” explains Williams. “In my career, I've been a beneficiary of so much good mentorship; I've aimed to pay that forward.”

Williams is the 11th recipient of ISA West’s most significant honor. Upon receiving the award at the most recent conference, he offered a talk on a recent research interest—trans-generational post-war trauma—signifying his passion for the breadth of the field of international studies. 

“The world changes so rapidly, and there's always so many different things to study in this field, which keeps the research feeling fresh,” he says. “It's a field that requires a good bit of humility because of how it constantly evolves.”