Daniel Williams

Where do you currently live?

Carrollton, Georgia

What is your current occupation?

Professor of history

What school did you attend while participating in NHD?

Homeschool, Bangor, Maine

What college did you attend?

B.A., History and Classics, Case Western Reserve University; Ph.D., History, Brown University

Who were your teachers?

Linda A. Williams

What years and in what category did you participate in NHD?

1990, Junior Individual Paper; 1991, Junior Individual Documentary; 1992-1994, Senior Individual Documentary

What are a few of your favorite or defining moments from your NHD experience?

Going to Washington, DC; discovering the excitement of original historical research.

How did NHD help you after high school?

It gave me historical research experience that I would not have otherwise had, and started me on my career as a historian. It was also through NHD that I received the scholarship that allowed me to attend Case Western Reserve University.

What recognition did you receive for participating in NHD?

1992: 3rd place, Senior Individual Documentary; 1993: World History Association Special Prize; 1994: 1st place, Senior Individual Documentary, and full-tuition scholarship to Case Western Reserve University

Did you do anything with your NHD project or research after the contest year?

I presented one of my NHD documentaries at the Bangor Public Library - an event that was covered in the Bangor Daily News. I published a summary of another NHD documentary in the World History Association's journal.

What has kept you busy since your days as an NHD student? Any particular challenges, stories, or achievements?

I pursued a career as a history professor (I teach at the University of West Georgia), and have published two books. I'm also an enthusiastic supporter of NHD, and have served as an NHD judge in Georgia for about 10 years. This year, my 11-year-old stepson participated in NHD for the first time. He won second place in the Junior Individual Performance category in the Georgia state NHD contest, and we're looking forward to going to Washington, DC, together for the 2017 National Contest.