St. Kitts Native Wins Prestigious Award for Graduate Research

Melissa Williams

ZIZ News…20 10 2010 – St. Kitts native Melissa Williams was awarded the 2010 Harold Isaacs Best Graduate Student Paper Award for her graduate research on the Caribbean Single Market and free movement of workers. She was presented the Award at the 28th Annual Conference of the Association of Third World Studies (ATWS) held in Savannah, Georgia.

Ms. Williams’ paper entitled “Free Movement under the Caribbean Single Market: St. Kitts-Nevis’ Vision for Unity” focused on public opinion and awareness of CARICOM’s free movement of workers policy. Ms. Williams, who graduated with a Masters of Public Administration (MAPA) in May from Howard University in Washington, DC, researched the issue for her thesis. She conducted original research in the Federation through dissemination of a survey to approximately 250 residents on St. Kitts and Nevis. The work was supervised by Professor Michael Frazier, Professor Marilyn Lashley and Dr. A. Karim Bangura.

“It was a great honor to be selected for this award. I am very proud of this research and the contribution it can make to CARICOM’s ongoing discussion of the CSME and efforts at regional integration,” said Ms. Williams. “To receive this award from an organization that recognizes the importance of scholarly debate and investigation into issues of interest to the developing world is an honor that cannot be replicated.”

The Award is named in honor of the ATWS’ founding president and is aimed toward supporting research focusing on the various problems facing Third World peoples. The Award is presented to the top graduate student paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association. The Award is designed to encourage high quality research and writing among graduate students who have an interest in Third World studies.

Founded in 1983, ATWS is the only scholarly organization with United Nations membership. Its members, which include scholars and development professionals, are dedicated to the humane and scientific study of Third World peoples, problems and issues, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life. It was founded by Dr. Harold Isaacs, professor of history at Georgia Southwestern State University.

Ms. Williams’ essay will be published in the prestigious peer refereed Journal of Third World Studies. It has also been included in the book Global Perspectives: International Development, Politics, and Public Administration.

Ms. Williams is the daughter of Eugenie Williams of New Town and the late Frank Warner of Sandy Point. She was raised in New Town. She graduated from Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma summa cum laude in 2004. She graduated from Howard with a MAPA and a Certificate in Women’s Studies in 2010.