Columbia Alum Molly Williams '13 Awarded Gates Cambridge Scholarship

Campus Communications Staff / Mar 12, 2025

head shot of molly williamsPhoto by Stephanie Susie Photography.
Molly Williams, who earned her BA in Fiction Writing at Columbia College Chicago, will pursue a PhD at the University of Cambridge, focusing on Victorian literature and ecological ethics.

Columbia College Chicago alum Molly Williams '13 has been selected as a 2025 Gates Cambridge Scholar. This prestigious scholarship, established by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, allows outstanding students from outside the United Kingdom to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Cambridge. Williams is one of just 35 U.S. scholars chosen for the 2025 cohort, marking the 25th anniversary of the scholarship program. 

At Cambridge, Williams will pursue a PhD that focuses on the intersection of horticulture and Victorian literature. Her research will explore the symbolism of controlled environments, like glasshouses, and how these spaces reflect issues such as colonialism, ecological stewardship, and human intervention in nature. 

Williams, who earned a BA in Fiction Writing at Columbia, is author of five books, including “Jane Austen’s Garden: A Botanical Tour of the Classic Novels” and “The Junior Plant Lover’s Handbook.” Known for blending literary history with accessible storytelling, she has made complex topics approachable for a wide audience. In addition to her writing, she serves as a lecturer at Assumption University and is a Catherine Mary Mooney Fellow at the Boston Athenaeum, where she has conducted extensive archival research. 

Looking back at her time at Columbia, Williams appreciates the academic freedom she experienced and the important relationships she formed.  

"Columbia allowed me to explore multiple disciplines and potential career paths. The relationships I forged with faculty are ones that I still cherish today," Williams shared. 

Congratulations to Molly on this incredible achievement! 

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