Meet Ella Moser ’26 A Spring Term Abroad class in Spain connected Moser with a piece of home.

Ella Moser ’26
Major: Biology
Minor: Art history
Hometown: Gainesville, Florida

Why did you choose to come to W&L? 

I found out about W&L because it’s my mom’s alma mater. After visiting W&L and other, bigger schools, I realized that W&L’s liberal arts education, small class sizes and strong relationships with professors would give me the opportunity to truly engage with what I’m learning. I knew that the close-knit environment here and W&L’s emphasis on honor, community and intellectual curiosity would both enrich my college experience and help me grow as a person.

Have you discovered a course or topic that you didn’t expect to study when you first came to W&L? 

Yes! I was super into art studio classes in high school, but at W&L I didn’t think I would be able to engage with art, since I’m pre-med. However, during my first term here, I was put into an art history class, and I fell in love with it. W&L’s liberal arts emphasis inspired me to pursue a minor in art history, which has allowed me to incorporate my love for art into my college experience while still focusing on my career goal of becoming a doctor.

Where is your “home” on campus?

My home on campus is wherever my best friends are. Whether it’s hanging around at Coop or grinding in the Lib, I always feel comfortable whenever I’m with them.

What has been your most impactful experience at W&L, either on or off-campus? 

The best thing I’ve done here is making the friends I know I’ll have for life and pursuing a top-tier education that will shape how I learn throughout my post-graduate education and career.

Who is your mentor on campus, and how have they helped you develop as a student? 

Melissa Kerin, one of my art history professors, is my mentor. She was actually the professor who I took that very first art history course with my freshman year, and, now, as a senior, I’m in an advanced seminar of hers. She’s been there for my entire journey throughout my time at W&L, seeing me grow from where I was as a freshman to where I am now as a senior. Her sheer knowledge, dedication and pure love for learning captivate and inspire me every time I walk into her classroom, and I consider myself lucky to have been able to develop a personal relationship with her.

What was your favorite class and why? 

This is so hard to decide. If I really had to pick just one, I would say ARTH 141, Buddhist Art of South and Central Asia with Professor Kerin. Like I mentioned before, this class that I took my first semester of freshman year transformed my learning experience at W&L. The material itself was also captivating, and I thoroughly loved learning about a culture and style of art that I had barely ever thought about before.

What are your hobbies/interests and how has W&L helped you develop and pursue them? 

My interests are in the arts and medically oriented service. I also enjoy exercise and anything outdoors. I love a good walk on the Chessie Trail or finding a local adventure (and the sky here is just about the prettiest I have ever seen). As I’ve already mentioned, I grew up with a love for both seeing and making my own art, which led me to pursue a minor in art history here. I wanted to dig more into cultivating my knowledge, and I’m so excited to have the opportunity to assist Professor Andrea Lepage in her curatorial research and exhibiting art of Mesoamerica and the Andes this winter. I am also involved in patient volunteering in Lexington. This year, I am serving as the president of W&L’s chapter of the Brain Exercise Initiative, a national nonprofit that uses mental exercises to improve cognitive function in older patients. As for exercise, the beautiful setting of the university allows me to explore the local trails and keep fit.

What has been your greatest accomplishment since arriving at W&L? 

Aside from learning to make it through winter as a Floridian, I have found my footing as a young adult here, navigating a challenging academic schedule, finding great friends after coming here not knowing anyone and learning to live independently.

Have you studied abroad during your time at W&L? Where did you go, and how was your experience?

I studied abroad during my sophomore Spring Term in Barcelona and Madrid, Spain, in Professor Elliott King’s modern art class. We focused most specifically on artist Salvador Dalí and architect Antoni Gaudí. Dalí has always been my favorite artist (inspired by my grandfather’s love for his art and frequent trips as a child to The Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida), so traveling to his home and being within his field of artistic creation was an extraordinary experience for me. Immersing myself in being abroad, even for a short time, augmented my learning experience and was, quite simply, so fun.

How have your experiences at W&L prepared you for post-graduate success? 

W&L’s pre-med classes have prepared me well for med school because of the small size and interpersonal connections with the professors. Unlike a 500-person organic chemistry lecture, the professors at W&L are so engaging and spend intentional time helping out their students. This makes SUCH a difference!

Who or what inspires you?

My parents and little sister inspire me. Each day, I try to emulate my parents’ driven, intentional lifestyle, which has helped me achieve my goals throughout my life and especially at W&L. My sister is a sophomore in college now, and watching her grow and mature over the past two years continues to inspire me to be my most authentic self.