It is with great pleasure that we introduce Alex Williams as the Elizabeth and P.T. Reilly Intern for the summer of 2024. Alex will be working closely with Special Collections and Archives staff to develop a physical and virtual exhibit exploring the relationship between forests, forestry, and the communities in Flagstaff and northern Arizona. She will be a senior this fall at Northern Arizona University and is focusing her education on history and comparative cultural studies.

Alex is a Dorrance Scholarship recipient, serves as a peer mentor for the Dorrance Scholarship Program, and has been a Teaching Assistant in the NAU Department of Comparative Cultural Studies. She also volunteers at the Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, Cline Library’s neighbor, incorporating her research into the guided tours she leads for visitors.

We sat down with Alex as she settles into her first week to learn a little more about her NAU experience so far and what she’s looking forward to as the Reilly Intern.

Tell us where you’re from and why you chose NAU.

I’m originally from Phoenix, AZ. My interest in the environmental sciences and forestry initially drew me to NAU.  I had heard excellent things about the NAU forestry program and initially projected my degree plan to be in forestry with a certificate in wildlife management. That is, until I discovered my love for the Humanities midway through my undergraduate experience.

What are you studying at NAU?

I’m now pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Cultural Studies and a Bachelor of Science in History with minors in Museum Studies, Classical Studies, and emphases in Art History and Environmental Humanities.

What are your plans after NAU?

After graduating from NAU I plan to pursue my master’s degree in museum studies or a similar degree. I’m interested in a future career in museums, archives, libraries, and historical societies. I hope to continue my studies with a historical and environmental emphasis.

What interested you about the Reilly Internship?

Where shall I start? This internship brings together my various interests in history, museum studies, and forestry in a very meaningful way. After becoming a volunteer tour guide at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park and joining the NAU Logging Team during my forestry days, I learned so much about Flagstaff’s local history, both in the environmental and human aspects. Yet, I quickly found that so many Flagstaff locals didn’t know their local history themselves; many don’t even know why the NAU mascot is the lumberjack in the first place. This internship appealed to me because I wanted to contribute to my community in this meaningful way. Flagstaff’s story is interesting and worth telling. This information exists in our archives right now, and I intend to convert it into something accessible, visual, and engaging for our community.

What are you hoping to learn from the experience?

Exhibit design and curation is my dream job. I hope to learn about what goes into archival research and designing museum exhibits, especially regarding historical exhibits. I’m interested in learning more about how to tell a cohesive story using primary and secondary sources, both through text and visual narratives. I’m hoping that this experience will prepare me for graduate school in museum studies and provide me with insight into my academic and professional goals.

What inspires your love of forests and forestry?

Growing up in the deep suburbs of Phoenix made me start to romanticize the great outdoors. During high school I enjoyed reading nineteenth-century nature writers like Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. This led me to choose forestry as my initial degree plan when I began attending NAU. Once I got here, I hiked often, and joined the Logging Sports team and Forestry Club; doing everything I could to stay outdoors. Even though I’m no longer a Forestry major, I continue to love forests and forestry, and I’m still somewhat involved in the NAU School of Forestry. I’m currently the Administrative Captain of the NAU Logging Sports team and work closely with SoF faculty to run the team.

Are you more of a cat person or a dog person…and why?

Sadly I’ve been cursed with severe allergies and cannot be around either of them. I’m a huge animal-lover and can only appreciate them from a distance. If I had to choose, I would say I’m more of a dog person. The allergies I get from “hypoallergenic” breeds are more bearable compared to the allergies I get from cats.

Welcome Alex!