Choosing a Wider Career Path
As an undergraduate, Nandi Sarah Mofya has launched a new organization for philosophy students and found encouragement to do more than she ever imagined.
Soon after Nandi Sarah Mofya began her college journey on a pre-med track, she analyzed the course she was on and found a better path for herself. A member of the Class of 2027, she is majoring in the philosophy of science and medicine, with a minor in women, gender, and sexuality.
“I started researching majors at UT that allowed me to still meet the requirements to go to medical school but would also open me up to other careers and classes,” she said. “This major allowed me to have a choice in my career path without feeling boxed into any particular field.”
She also found faculty mentors, including Assistant Professor Joe Stratmann. “He always encouraged us in class to build upon our ideas and bring something new to the table,” Mofya said.
When she had the idea to create the Voltaire Society, a new club in the philosophy department, he immediately offered support. “He led me to people in the department who were so kind and equally generous to help make this year-and-a-half-long dream come true,” she said.
“To this day, he always makes sure to check on me and Voltaire, and find opportunities for us to expand,” Mofya said. “He never fails to help us at every turn. He has been truly amazing, and without his help Voltaire would have never become what it is today.”
Becoming the founder and president of Voltaire is one of several ways the undergraduate has honed skills such as leadership and community development as a Volunteer.
Mofya’s also president of the university’s STAR Team (Student Trained Admissions Representatives). “Working with prospective students from all across the country has taught me so much about personability and communication skills,” she said. “We constantly talk to people from all walks of life, be it alums or first-gen students. With this, I have not only learned to manage my team, but to also be dependable and how to work efficiently and effectively.”
As a second-year student she made a film with friends through the organization Black Students for Artistic Expression (BAE), and she became a member of the Mu Beta chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority, focused on women’s health and education. “As a Sigma woman, I have learned and hope to embody the poise and dedication that one person should dedicate to their community and the betterment of the future generation,” Mofya said.
“I have had so many opportunities, such as the Rocky Top President’s Institute, VolCorps involvement, and an internship with a local attorney who introduced me to district judges and officials,” she said. “All of these have shown me that I am capable and worthy of being in these spaces and creating a positive and lasting impact on my communities.”
Volunteering and being involved with multiple organizations showed Mofya that the ability to find likeminded people at UT was easier than she expected. “Once you open your mind to these new experiences and stay true to yourself, you can transform yourself in ways you never imagined.”
She is grateful for people from the philosophy department who have inspired and supported her, including Department Head Avery Kolers; Professor Nora Berenstain, who is also chair of the Women, Gender, and Sexuality interdisciplinary program; Professor Allen Dunn; and Stratmann.
“Through these relationships, my time here at UT has become something I never would have dreamed of. It has been nothing short of amazing,” she said.
Her journey to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, began during a childhood stop at a thrift store with her father. When she showed him a bright orange sweatshirt that said “Volunteers,” he told her about Tennessee.
They bought the shirt, and he promised to take her to see the mountains, but he passed away while she was in high school. After UT accepted her application, Mofya toured the school with her mother and brother. “From the moment we stepped out of our car and saw the campus, my family and I knew,” she said. “It was a chilly spring day, and the wind was blowing so beautifully. It was almost like my dad was there with us. Coming to UT gave me the opportunity to honor my late father, and I made my commitment to this university that very day.”