Erin Williams, M.A. 2018
Editor/Writer, RTI International – Research Triangle Park, NC
2018 M.A., Religious Studies
How has being a Religion graduate from Duke helped shape you personally and/or professionally?
"My time at Duke gave me skills and connections that led me to my current career. Although I chose not to stay in academia, I am in an academically related field that requires a thorough understanding of research, editing, and writing to succeed. Having Duke and a Duke Press internship on my resume opened a lot of doors, especially in the Triangle area. In a personal sense, my program allowed me to pursue what I was interested in with people who wanted to read and talk about the same obscure interests. It created a sense of community and belonging. Since graduating, almost no one has asked what I think about Feuerbach or if I've read Heidegger, which is a shame."
What advice would you give students in Duke's Religion programs?
"When graduating, remind yourself that you take away more than a degree in religious studies - you gain a network of peers, opportunities, and experiences that can translate to multiple fields. Be open about where you want to go next and think how you can translate both hard and soft skills to any field. My degree has only ever been a point of interest for people, never a hindrance, so treat it like the benefit it is."
