When Imani Williams first arrived at NYU Abu Dhabi, she didn't realize how much she didn't know about herself — or the world around her. But it was precisely her willingness to be curious, to reach out, and to ask questions that would fundamentally reshape her understanding of who she was and what she was capable of becoming.
When campus life becomes the classroom
Classmates from diverse backgrounds transformed routine discussions into revelatory moments. Williams found herself welcomed into friendships that introduced her to cultures and religions vastly different from her own African American background. These immersive experiences dismantled misconceptions about the UAE, the Middle East, and beyond, replacing assumptions with firsthand experiences and understanding.
The experience awakened an awareness she hadn't known was missing. "You're able to connect with people on a different level when you already have some understanding of their culture." Her Emirati best friend Alia and her family took her into what she describes now as “my home away from home.”
Through these cross-cultural exchanges, she began to understand her own heritage in new ways. "I had a complete identity transformation," she says. "I finally understood what it meant to be African American — and I felt pride in it."
Curiosity opened doors she didn't know existed
Williams began as a creative writing major, but during her semester in London, a psychology course centered around the psychology of morality in childhood changed everything. "I fell in love with psychology and I want to try and major in this," she realizes.
During a course on blackness across the diaspora, Williams was impressed with the visiting professor’s achievements.
Dr. Onnie Rogers was a former NCAA all-around champion who specialized in psychology, had completed her PhD while also being a mother to young children. Williams wondered: "How did she do it all?" In a private meeting, the professor shared a pivotal detail. "She told me about her process, and how she went straight from her bachelor's to her PhD, what that looked like for her, and how possible it is."
Not knowing that she can skip her master’s to the PhD program, this new information was transformative. Professor Rogers did not just share information, she provided a roadmap for Williams. "She told me I needed to look into doing something that summer, and where to look into doing it." That summer, Williams completed a research internship at the University of Maryland in her hometown — a crucial stepping stone for her PhD applications.
A network of support
The staff from the Academic Center worked alongside Williams to ensure a smoother transition in switching from the creative writing to psychology major. And when PhD applications came around, the Career Development Center (CDC) advisor supported her through the process. "Manal was my savior… she reviewed everything before I submitted it.”
This web of mentorship changed her trajectory entirely, landing her in the right major and preparing her for doctoral study.
Prepared for life after college
Her semester in London, J-Terms and life in Abu Dhabi had already proven to herself something vital: "I could really go anywhere and live anywhere and thrive."
That first successful move as an adult became the foundation for future boldness. When it came time to choose a PhD program, Williams didn't hesitate to accept an offer in Iowa, US. She's already looking ahead, with plans to potentially live in Spain or elsewhere outside the US in the future.
Williams brings more than academic preparation to her doctoral studies in psychology. She brings the ability to form meaningful cross-cultural relationships, the self-awareness to seek environments where she can thrive, and a clear understanding of how community has and will continue to shape her path.
