During my first year at Chatham, I (Abigail Kneuss ‘23) have noticed that so many interesting people attend Chatham, and our sense of community is strong, even during hard times. In an effort to showcase just a few of these great people, I’ll be doing a series of student interviews in the coming weeks. These highlights are for students, about students, and by students. This week I am featuring Lalah C. Williams ‘22.
Lalah is a powerful force at Chatham. She is the Executive Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion for Chatham Student Government, the Program Assistant for the Pennsylvania Center for Women & Politics, a R.I.S.E. Program mentor, a Woman’s Living and Learning Community member, a member of the Chatham Democrats, and an Orientation Leader. I caught up with her to discuss her big plans for the future, her involvement, and her advice to students during these times.
Lalah C. Williams
Major: Policy Studies with a French minor
Hometown: Upper Marlboro, MD
Q: What drew you to Chatham?
A: My parents both went to grad school in Pittsburgh at Pitt and Carnegie Mellon, and they actually lived in what is now the Chatham Tower Apartments on Fifth! So, they suggested I look into Pittsburgh, and I found Chatham. I could sense the strong community at Chatham right away. Then I found out about the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics. I knew it was the school for me.
Q: How would you explain the Policy Studies major?
A: In a way, it’s a lot like Political Science, but it prepares you for any career in the political field. It’s 2 parts Political Science, 2 parts History, and 1 part Economics which is great. I want to use it to continue the work I’ve been doing through the center in helping women get elected. I want to run for office myself as well. In high school, I was in a program and got to stand where the Speaker of the House of the Maryland General Assembly stands, and I liked the view! My end goal is to be the governor of Maryland.
Q: Well you have my vote! When you’re not studying or working with your organizations what are you up to?
A: When I’m on campus I spend a lot of time in the library, it’s a really calming environment. I also like exploring Pittsburgh and walking up and down Walnut Street, which is so cute. One of my favorite things to do is attend shows at the Benedum with the Fine Arts with the Finegolds cohort.
Q: Best part of your summer?
A: Well, I’m a Girl Scout for life, and I have previously spent my summers as a counselor for the Girl Scout camp I went to as a kid. Obviously, this summer is a lot different than my previous ones. I keep telling my mom, I want to go places! But there’s nowhere to go really. I’ve been having fun with my family though, we watch 90 Day Fiancé together, and we’ve been taking turns cutting each other’s hair.
Q: Did Girl Scouts affect your decision in studying Policy Studies?
A: Definitely. When I was just starting as a Brownie in Girl Scouts, I thought the service projects were the coolest things ever. My commitment to them gave me the idea of running for office and using my platform for helping others. Plus, I love having a group of women that supports me in all I do, which is what it’s also like at Chatham. My friends joke around that it’s Girl Scout University.
Q: What initiatives have you worked on at Chatham?
A: I’m really involved with the Center for Women in Politics and all they do, like holding launch parties and voter registration tables. I want to run a campaign on campus in the future that features members of the Chatham community and why they vote. I want to make signs and banners highlighting their reasons to raise awareness on how important voting is.
Q: Why do you vote?
A: I vote because my life depends on it. And my advice to students who maybe don’t have the same outlook on it, is to vote because someone else’s life depends on it.
Q: That’s a really powerful sentiment. Do you have any advice on how students can support one another during these times?
A: For me, I’m feeling a lot of emotions right now. It’s a lot to handle on my own, so I would suggest checking in on your friends. I recently had a girl from one of my classes email me and thank me for something I helped her with and check in on me, and it meant the world. Really just take care of one another in any way that you can.