ALI WILLIAMS, MFA, MA

CURRICULUM VITAE 2025


Researcher. Educator. Creator. Collaborator.

Experienced professional with a demonstrated capacity for leadership, mentorship, and international collaboration.

Proven ability to build and manage successful businesses, develop and deliver engaging curriculum, and mentor students on diverse projects.

Passionate about fostering global citizenship and cross-cultural understanding through higher education. Fluent in French.

alimwilliams.1@gmail.com
+ 1 310.621.9839
773 W. Lomita Avenue. Ojai, CA . 93023
LinkedIn | www.aliwilliams.info

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EXPERIENCE

Continuing Lecturer, Writing Program. University of California, Santa Barbara (2018 - Present)
  • Teach diverse upper-division writing courses (creative nonfiction, digital journalism, public relations, magazine writing, web content, etc.) to undergraduate students.
  • Mentor students on long-term projects, internships, and research fellowships (Raab Writing Fellowship, Pandemic Stories Initiative).
  • Serve on departmental committees (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Journalism Minor; Raab Fellowship).
  • Develop and manage student-run publications (Journalism at UCSB website; Synthesis Journal; Anastamos Interdisciplinary Graduate Journal).
Alison Williams Consulting (2018 - Present)
  • Writing and content strategist, instructor, and creator. 
Founder/CEO, Raconteur Consulting (2011-2023) 
  • Provided publicity, marketing, and brand strategy for creative industry clients. 
  • Built and managed a successful international business.
Co-founder/Co-owner, The Academy of Archivists (2008-2011)
  • Led creative media consultancy.
Freelance Writer (2006-2009)
  • Developed visual treatments and scripts for directors and production companies.

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Candidate, Creative Practice, Transart Institute/Liverpool John Moores University (Projected Completion: Spring 2028)
M.F.A., Creative Writing, Chapman University (2018)
M.A., English, Chapman University (2018)
B.A., Comparative Literature, Gallatin School at New York University (1996)
  • Junior Year Study Abroad, American University of Paris (1994-1995)

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

UC, Santa Barbara (2018-Present): Continuing Lecturer; Lecturer (courses listed on request)
Chapman University (2016-2019): Visiting Lecturer, Part-Time Lecturer, Instructor of Record, Teaching Assistant (courses listed on request)

AWARDS & HONORS

  • Michelle Kendrick Award for Outstanding Digital Production/Scholarship (2023)
  • Visual, Performing and Media Arts Award, UC Santa Barbara (2022)
  • Honorable Mention, Kathleen Ethel Welch Outstanding Article Award, Peitho Journal of Feminist Scholarship (2020)
  • Others (details available on request)

SKILLS

  • Languages: English (Native), French (Fluent)
  • Technical: Proficient in various software and platforms for communication, website development, design, social media, AI tools, and project management, including Zoom, Canvas, Slack, Google Suite, Microsoft Teams & Suite, Squarespace, Weebly, Canva, Adobe, Asana, Trello, Basecamp. (Further details available on request.)
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INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Research Residencies: 
    • Transart Institute Residency, Liverpool, UK (2023, 2024, 2025)
    • Graduate Residency Program/Simon Pope, Gibraltar Point Center for the Arts, Toronto, Canada (2025)
    • Visiting Researcher, Center for Arts, Design & Social Research, Spoleto, Italy (2023)
Doctoral Research:
    • Current Ph.D. research through Transart Institute/Liverpool John Moores University connects with a global network of scholars and practitioners, including PhD advisors located in UK, Germany, and Australia.
Professional Experience: 
    • Managed media relations and brand strategy for international clients including UK, France, Spain, China, Germany, Italy, Brazil, etc.
    • Cannes Lions Awards: Residence, hospitality, and event management for select clients over a seven-year period during attendance at the annual awards show in Cannes, France.
    • Managed submissions with international clients for awards shows globally. 
Language Proficiency: Fluent in French; familiarity with Spanish & Italian

LEADERSHIP

Business Leadership: 
    • Founded and led four successful businesses: Raconteur Consulting, an international brand consultancy, and The Academy of Archivists, a creative media consultancy; as well as two earlier brick-and-mortar shops in Santa Monica, California. Successfully managed teams, developed and implemented strategic plans, secured clients, and oversaw all aspects of business operations.
Academic Leadership: 
    • Developed and managed student-run publications at UC Santa Barbara, including the Journalism at UCSB website and the Synthesis journal, providing students with valuable experience in writing, editing, and publishing.
    • Led and co-led committees for residencies and exhibitions within the Transart Institute's PhD program, demonstrating initiative and organizational skills in coordinating complex projects.
    • Served on key departmental committees at UC Santa Barbara, contributing to curriculum development, program assessment, and student support initiatives.
    • Demonstrated leadership in the classroom by creating engaging and challenging learning environments that foster critical thinking and creativity.

MENTORSHIP

Provided guidance and support to students on academic and professional development. Mentored numerous students on research projects, internships, independent studies, fellowships, and initiatives, culminating in publications, presentations, and grant awards, including:
    • Raab Writing Fellowship (UCSB): Guided eight students over 2019-2023 through year-long research and writing projects culminating in mediums including zines, manifestos, websites, social media archives, Examples include explorations of feminist power, intimate partner violence, ethnographic legacies of family histories as “Vietnamese boat people” and farm-workers, queer identity through tap dance, and the Anthropocene.
    • Pandemic Stories Initiative (UCSB): Supporting students in developing and publishing creative nonfiction pieces based on their pandemic experiences.
    • Independent Studies (UCSB, Chapman): Supervising student research and creative work on topics related to journalism, media relations, brand development, and creative writing.
    • Internships (UCSB, Chapman): Mentoring and supervising student interns working on website development, content creation, design, and journal publication.

SERVICE

  • National: HASTAC Scholars Fellowship Mentor, Association for Business Communication Proposal Reviewer, Global Society for Online Literacy (GSOLE) Conference Panel Facilitator and Committee Member.
  • UC Santa Barbara: Served on various departmental committees (DEI, Journalism Minor, Raab Fellowship, Art Design & Architecture Museum Liaison, etc.).
  • Transart Institute: Active in PhD program leadership and committees, including co-leading committees for residencies and exhibitions.

PUBLICATIONS & CREATIVE WORK

  • Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles: "Small Sounds" (Journal of Multimodal Rhetorics), "Feminist Practices in Digital Humanities Research" (Peitho).
  • Visual Art Exhibitions: Multiple exhibitions, including work at the Interdisciplinary Humanities Center, UC Santa Barbara, and the Hilbert Museum of California Art
  • Other: Curation, reviews, poetry, sound & music production, interviews, essays (details available on request).