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Gerhild Scholz Williams, Ph.D., professor of German and of comparative literature in Arts and Sciences, has been named the first Barbara Schaps Thomas and David M. Thomas Professor in the Humanities in Arts and Sciences. A formal installation ceremony for Williams, who is also associate vice chancellor/special assistant to the chancellor for academic affairs, will be held at 4 p.m. Oct. 21 in Holmes Lounge, Ridgley Hall.
"Gerhild is a splendid University citizen as well as a highly respected scholar in her field," said Edward S. Macias, Ph.D., executive vice chancellor and dean of Arts and Sciences. "I'm delighted that she'll be serving as the first Thomas professor -- a fitting honor for someone who has given so much to the institution and particularly to Arts and Sciences.
"The professorship was created as the result of a gift from Barbara and David Thomas, who are great friends of Washington University and Arts and Sciences," Macias continued. "They understand and believe in the importance of the liberal arts, particularly the humanities. Their gift of a professorship will allow us to recognize outstanding faculty in the humanities for generations to come."
Born in Perleberg, Germany, Williams became a U.S. citizen in 1974. She received both bachelor's and master's degrees in comparative literature from the University of Washington in 1969 and1971, respectively. She received a doctorate in comparative literature specializing in medieval studies from the same institution in 1974. She joined the Washington University faculty in 1975 as assistant professor of Germanic languages and literatures and of comparative literature; she was named associate professor in 1981 and professor in 1986.
In 1989, Williams was named associate provost, a position she held until 1995, when she became associate vice chancellor. In 1997, she was given the additional title of special assistant to the chancellor for academic affairs.
A scholar of the early modern period (1450-1700), she has taught undergraduate and graduate courses on a broad range of topics in language, literature and culture. As part of her recent research, Williams has been interested in the relationship between magic and witchcraft and juridical and political power in German and French texts from the Middle Ages to the 17th century. Her 1995 book, "Defining Dominion: The Discourses of Magic and Witchcraft in Early Modern France and Germany" (paperback 1999), was translated into German and published in 1998. She has co-edited four volumes and published over 45 articles in books, journals and reference works.
Williams has been a visiting lecturer/professor at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland and at the University of Tübingen in Germany. She was named a fellow at the Institute for European Cultural History at the University of Augsburg, Germany. She has held research awards from the Herzog-August-Bibliothek, Wolfenbüttel, Germany; the National Endowment for the Humanities; and the German Academic Exchange Service. A recipient of a Fulbright Senior Scholar Research Grant, she also has received grants from the West German government, the Center for Reformation Research in St.Louis and the Missouri Committee for the Humanities.
From the beginning of her career at the University, Williams has been an active participant, contributing to its development and programs. She served as chair of the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures from 1986 to 1987 and from 1988 to 1992 and as director of the Graduate Program in German from 1997 to the present. She also has served as director of the Medieval and Renaissance Studies and Linguistics Studies programs in Arts and Sciences and was chair of the Year Abroad Task Force, which recently completed its work.
She was instrumental in establishing the International Writers Center, on whose executive committee she currently serves.
The Thomases are both enthusiastic University supporters. Barbara Thomas is a distinguished Arts and Sciences alumna who graduated in 1976 with a degree in drama. Following several acting jobs, a year of graduate work in drama and a graduate degree in business, she entered the corporate world and is now senior vice president and chief financial officer of Time Warner Sports/HBO Sports.
She credits her undergraduate work in Arts and Sciences for her success in the business world, citing the critical thinking and problem-solving skills she learned in math, English and foreign language classes, as well as the confidence, self-esteem and teamwork developed in her performing arts courses.
In addition to her service on both the University Board of Trustees and the Arts and Sciences National Council, Barbara Thomas is chair of major gifts for Arts and Sciences in the Campaign for Washington University.
Barbara and David Thomas are also long-time supporters of the Arts and Sciences Scholarship Program. David Thomas shares his wife's belief in the importance of an undergraduate Arts and Sciences degree. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and a master's degree from Yale University, both in East Asian Studies, as well as a graduate degree in business from Northwestern University, where he and Barbara met. David is principal of The Leitner Thomas Group, a buy-out firm.
