William Hearne

Fulbright/Open Award

William Cotton Hearne graduated with high honours from The University of Texas at Austin (UT), receiving a BA in Plan II Honors, Government, and African & African Diaspora Studies. A son of Houston Texas’ historic Third Ward, William’s roots ground his pursuit of scholarship, activism, and artistry. At UT, William conducted qualitative and creative research on Black academia receiving the 2024 Lois Baird Trice Prize for Creative Scholarship in an Honors Thesis, and the UT Austin 2021-2022 President’s Award for Global Learning (PAGL). William is inspired by the capacity of narrative, shared story, and creative expression to build and empower marginalised communities. Through the mentorship of Imperial College London’s Dr. Wayne Mitchell, William will build upon his PAGL research conducting interviews and oral histories with Black UK academics to create a dynamic digital archive, fuelling and expanding global-interactive academic communities. Additionally, William is a community organiser, playwright, and aspiring civil rights lawyer exploring the nexus of art, activism, public policy, and community-building. While in the UK, he looks forward to exploring British theatre traditions and collaborating with cross-cultural playwriting communities.