Through GWU’s Webb in Washington, Moryah Snype Connects with People Around the World

Senior Grateful for Opportunity to Learn and Gain Professional Experience

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Gardner-Webb Senior Moryah Snype applied to Webb in Washington in 2022 because as a political science and international affairs major, she wanted to meet people from other countries. Her living and learning experience in the Nation’s Capital met her goal, providing her with many opportunities to make new friends and connections around the world.

The semester not only prepared her academically for graduate school, she was fascinated by the people she met. “What I enjoyed the most was hearing thoughts from other people from different countries like France and Germany,” observed Snype, who is from Charleston, S.C. “One of my roommates was from the UK, the other one from Japan.”

The deadline to apply for the Fall 2023 Semester of Webb in Washington is March 10. Accepted students spend the semester in Washington D.C. attending classes at American University and gaining professional, resume-building experience at an internship in an area of interest.

With a Metro pass provided by the University, Snype was able to explore the city with the other students and participate in events sponsored by the embassies. She went to a ball at the Italian embassy, learned an Italian dance and sampled Italian desserts. Snype, who is a member of the GWU women’s soccer team, also went to see a World Cup game with her new friends.

Snype took two classes: Managing the Pandemic and Globalization in Crisis. She enjoyed the class structure, which gave her a glimpse into graduate school. “The professor asked us to bring in articles from ‘Financial Times,’ and we would talk about them,” she explained. “After that, we talked about different topics. My favorite was talking about education.”

Her internship with mEducation Alliance gave her more opportunities to network with people around the world. The non-profit organization brings together EdTech investors, policymakers, and practitioners to share good practices within the global EdTech community and accelerate EdTech in low-resource and low-income developing countries. Her job was to help lay the groundwork for the alliance’s 12th annual symposium.

Additionally during her semester there, Snype met GWU alumnus Andrei Coley. He has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a Master of Business Administration in finance from Gardner-Webb. Coley is a principal ServiceNow Developer at QinetiQ, a company that provides world-class technology development, engineering research and development and revolutionary products to the defense, security, and commercial markets.

Snype has already benefitted from participating Webb in Washington. She believes that her experience helped her gain admission into graduate school at Seton Hall in South Orange, N.J. Her goal is to work for the United Nations human rights department.

Webb in Washington

Webb in Washington launched with an initial donation from Gardner-Webb alumnus, Chris Meekins, and his wife, Amanda, who live and work in the D.C. area. After graduating from GWU in 2006 with a degree in political science and economics, Meekins moved to D.C. He is a former senior Department of Health and Human Services official, congressional chief of staff, and health policy advisor, who now works as a Washington health policy research analyst at Raymond James.

Find more details on the program and the application, here.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.