Leah Moore grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana, in a community where family runs deep, everyone knows each other, and most people stay close to home. Her parents made education the priority, believing it could open doors for their daughter. “They were always saying, ‘School, school, school,’” Moore said.
She didn’t always know what that path would look like beyond her small high school. But on a visit with her uncle in the D.C. area, Moore toured George Mason University and immediately felt at ease. The campus was open and diverse—“there’s a feeling that can walk up to anyone, anytime,” she said—and its proximity to the nation’s capital appealed to her lifelong love of history. George Mason became the only school she applied to.
Now a senior majoring in community health with a minor in nutrition, Moore is the first in her family to attend college—a milestone she doesn’t take lightly, particularly with two younger sisters, ages 5 and 7, watching her path. “Being a first-generation college student is something I take a lot of pride in,” she said. “I like to think that by taking this step, I’m creating a pathway for my family, one that could lead to more college graduates in the future.” Her father, she said, proudly displays a “GMU Dad” sticker on his truck.
Public health clicked for Moore once she realized it was as much about people as medicine. A course on viral diseases gave her insight into the lives of people with HIV, while another on chronic illness showed how diet can shape conditions like liver disease and diabetes. “You start to see everything through people’s lives, not just symptoms,” she said.
That perspective led her to add a minor in nutrition. Her Nutrition 295 course proved especially eye-opening, tracing how everyday food choices affect the body. It also made her think about home. “Food is such a big part of the culture, but healthy eating isn’t always the top priority,” Moore said. “I want to help people understand how what they eat connects to the way they feel.”
Outside of class, Moore works as a receptionist in the College of Public Health’s Office of Student Affairs, fielding questions from classmates about classes and campus resources. Looking ahead with her career, she hopes to work at the intersection of science and communication, helping people make sense of health information in their daily lives.
Moore still remembers what it was like to face college without a roadmap. Bouts of homesickness have been strong at times. “I remind myself that these sacrifices are worth it because I’m doing this for something bigger than myself,” she said.
At George Mason, though, she’s found her footing in a place that now feels like a second home. “The thing that makes me love Mason is the community,” Moore said. “There’s not a time I’m walking across campus and there’s not something going on. People come up, say hi—it just gives you a homey feeling.”