A self-professed geek who lives to talk about organic chemistry, Kim Keala Williams says the undergraduate research opportunities at Oakland University changed her life.
Williams, an OU senior who will graduate with a BS in Biochemistry this May, was initially reluctant to attend college after graduating from high school because she had a good job in a national marketing firm.
Since it was close to home, she decided to give Oakland University a try — and she’s thrilled she did.
Her first class at OU, Introduction to Sociology with Professor Jo Reger, ignited her passion for education. After considering degrees in fine arts and sociology, Williams set her heart on a pre-med program because of her interest in medicine and family tradition.
But that was before Williams discovered biochemistry research was her true passion. Her first taste of research came through the MERCK/AAAS summer research program which she pursued to help her chances of gaining admittance into medical school.
“My research adviser told me I was really good at research and should consider it as a career,” she says. “I loved it, but it still took me about six months to settle on the idea of research as a career instead of becoming a doctor.”
Since then, Williams has immersed herself in her chosen field where she has worked on research projects whose results could lead to the further studies into the cures of common diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s.
Williams can’t say enough about the abundance of research opportunities available to undergraduate students at OU.
“Research is very, very accessible here. That’s one of the many great things about OU,” she says. “At a larger school, you’d have to stand in a long line to even be considered for even one research project whereas at OU it seems a student can get involved in as many as they like.”
In addition, Williams is a teaching assistant for second semester organic chemistry – a position she loves.
“My first-term of organic chemistry ruined my GPA and I thought my world would come to an end if I couldn’t become a doctor,” she says. “So I changed my study habits. The second term was completely different and I was among the top students.”
Now, she provides supplemental instruction in the classroom for several reasons.
“First, I really, really, really love chemistry and the opportunity to talk about it three hours a week is wonderful,” she says.
Speaking from personal experience, “Organic chemistry is one those things that makes people hate going to school and it can ruin GPAs. I get a great deal of satisfaction out of presenting the material in a way that’s understandable and digestible.”
After earning her BS from OU, Williams is heading to the University of Michigan for graduate school. She was also accepted at Johns Hopkins and Wayne State University. “Johns Hopkins was the first school that accepted me which is evidence to me that OU is a competitive player in Michigan and out of state in terms of preparing students for graduate school.”
Once she earns her Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry, Williams sees herself working in the pharmaceutical industry in some capacity as well as teaching organic chemistry. “Talking about chemistry is my favorite thing to do.”