Dana Scott / Winonan

Winona State University has educated students in an array of studies, graduating scientists, business experts, writers and others. On Friday, Nov. 4, alumna Kim Schultz’s book “Three Days in Damascus” was published by Palewell Press.

“Three Days in Damascus” is about Schultz’s one month in the Middle East and advocates for the 65 million refugees worldwide with interviews from Syrian refugees. The book is also a memoir about Schultz falling in love with an Iraqi refugee, Omar, in the midst of a civil war.

“It is a love story, and I think we can all connect to that,” Schultz said.

Schultz graduated from Winona State in 1993 with a degree in theater with an emphasis in performance, and an English minor.

“I saw my life going exactly where it is now,” Schultz said. “Making a living as an actor, it is very exciting that my career now involves my degree in the arts, to be able to be creative.”

Schultz is an actor, writer and refugee advocate. As an actor, she has performed at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, Minn., John. F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. and more.

Along with performing, Schultz has also written plays and a short journal-style book called “Story Diary” about her time in the Middle East.

“I wouldn’t want to do one or the other,” Schultz said. “You have to be willing to be busy, you have to be creative, be brave and a hard worker.”

In 2009 Schultz traveled to Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. She was commissioned by Intersections International to write a play to bring attention to the Syrian refugee crisis.

“I sat in [the refugee’s] homes for a month and heard their stories,” Schultz said. “I told them I would share their stories as much as I could and bring awareness and change.”

The result of this was a play titled “No Place Called Home,” and out of the play came the idea for “Three Days in Damascus.”

Writing “Three Days in Damascus” was a three-year process for Schultz, including two years of intense writing.

Schultz expressed how it feels nerve racking and exciting to have the book published and hopes her book can shift the conversation around refuges.

“It is important to me because in the current political climate refugees are dehumanized,” Schultz said. “If more people could have the experience I had, they would change their minds about how they view refugees.”

At the end of “Three Days in Damascus” there is a list of resources for readers of the book to reach out to if they would like to help support refugees.

Schultz expressed people can donate to local refugee organizations. They are frequently in need of donations of household items, funds and people’s time, such as teaching refugees English.

Schultz does not know exactly what she will do next after “Three Days in Damascus,” but views herself as a lifelong advocate.

“I don’t know how you can have the experiences I have had and not be changed and not be a lifelong advocate,” Schultz said.

For now, Schultz is focusing on the release of “Three Days in Damascus,” doing book readings and may be visiting Winona next January.

-By Dana Scott