Meet a W&L Scholar: Tanajia Moye-Green ’23 Tanajia Moye-Green '23 is a small-town girl with big plans to make a difference in the world.

By Amanda Minix
June 24, 2021

Editor’s note: This series will present a conversation with a current W&L scholarship recipient or summer research scholar. W&L’s generous donors have made these funds possible to enhance the university’s learning community.

“I am deeply grateful to those who have invested in my education through the scholarships I received. I have achieved so much in my short time at Washington and Lee, and I know that the sky is the limit when it comes to the good that I will do in the future!”

~ Tanajia Moye-Green ’23

Hometown: Mulberry, Florida
Scholarship: Florida West Coast Scholarship

Q: Why did you choose W&L?

I chose Washington and Lee because of the study abroad opportunities and generous financial aid. I am deeply grateful to those who have invested in my education through the scholarships I received. I have achieved so much in my short time at Washington and Lee, and I know that the sky is the limit when it comes to the good that I will do in the future!

Q: What are you studying?

I am majoring in sociology and minoring in data science as well as poverty studies. I am a couple of courses away from finishing my sociology major, so I will be spending more time focusing on my minors and pursuing any interesting dance or theater courses I come across. For Spring Term this year, I am taking Aerial Dance; this class has been nothing short of a blast! Is it very challenging? Wholeheartedly, yes. The aches and bruises are so worth it for the beautiful and extraordinary art that we create.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of W&L?

I absolutely love the academics at W&L. Professor Eastwood is amazing and has pushed me further than I ever thought possible.

Last summer, COVID-19 put a halt to all study abroad plans, and everyone was encouraged to stay indoors. Understandably, I still wanted to be productive and spend my summer doing meaningful work. Professor Eastwood secured funding for me to work alongside him as a research scholar to allow me to develop my sociological data science skills; Professor Goluboff also took me on as an intern for the Office of Community-Based Learning.

The professors here genuinely care and are committed to ensuring that every student finds success at W&L. I cannot exaggerate this enough.

Q: What has been your favorite class so far?

Calculus! I was terrified to take Calculus, but W&L has shown me the importance of being willing to jump out of my comfort zone. Now that I have taken the class, I feel so empowered! Professor Dresden was so encouraging and patient that I could not help but love that course.

Another one of my favorite courses is Wilderness Leadership with James Dick. In this course, I went on hiking trips weekly and learned more about the beautiful natural community surrounding Lexington.

I am scared of the outdoors, therefore, Wilderness Leadership was a major comfort zone breach. The last time I went trail walking in Florida, I came across a few hungry alligators and decided then and there that I would never go wandering outdoors again.

However, this year I decided to give Outing Club a chance and went for a couple of Whitewater Rafting trips. They were incredible, and I instantly knew that I had to get myself into the Wilderness Leadership class to continue pushing myself to get outside more often. Best decision by far. James Dick has even chosen me to be an Appalachian Adventure Trip Leader for this summer, which was unexpected but greatly appreciated.

Q: What extracurricular activities are you involved in on campus?

CARE (Community Anti-Racism Effort), ITS Helpdesk, Habitat for Humanity, Community-Based Learning, and Global Discovery Laboratories as a newly-hired specialist. I write for The Vigil and Ring-tum Phi sometimes, as well. I was recently appointed to the Executive Committee’s Community Engagement and Service Learning subcommittee for the next two years.

Q: What are your future career plans?

I want to work as a USAID Foreign Service Officer. Immediately after graduating, I hope to volunteer in the Peace Corps or with an international NGO.

Q: More immediately, what are your plans for this summer?

I am a Critical Language Scholarship finalist, so I will be spending my summer in Lexington learning Swahili virtually and researching racial economic inequality with Professor Eastwood. You can also probably catch me lurking around the ITS Helpdesk over the summer! The library and IT staff are pretty awesome people to learn from.

Q: Lastly, would you share your thoughts regarding your scholarship?

I hope to continue making my scholarship donors feel proud of where their money is going, and I express my thanks for their believing in me! I will remember and appreciate this profound kindness for the rest of my life.