The best thing about Moravian is the community that comes with attending here. The professors at Moravian make it the great institution it is.
I’m sure we’ve all heard the whole “this crap won’t fly in college” speech in high school, and sure, sometimes that’s applicable, but usually, teachers use it in the worst situations. For example, when my father passed away and I missed two weeks of school, I had one teacher who just did not accept any of my late work from that period. And thanking every divine being, I have never experienced that with Moravian professors. They are all so understanding and kind.
Our newspaper staff is constantly debating which professor to feature in our spotlights. There are so many excellent professors to highlight that it’s hard to know where to start.
Some professors stand out even more so. In class, Philosophy Professor Dr. Arash Naraghi told me I had “a masterpiece of a brain.” He also said a few years ago, when I was a freshman, that students like me help maintain his own faith in teaching, and that kind of encouragement sticks for life
Department of English and Writing Arts Professor Liz Gray has been one of the most supportive figures I’ve ever met. From writing countless letters of recommendation to offering steady advice, she has always been there when I needed her most.
When I once doubted whether I could return to Moravian at all, several professors reached out with words of disappointment, not in me, but in the thought of losing me from their classrooms. That kind of genuine care is rare in higher education, but at Moravian, it feels like the norm.
Colleges are often judged by their rankings, facilities, or endowments. But what makes Moravian truly special isn’t something you can put on a brochure. It’s the professors and the people here; their compassion, their encouragement, their dedication that have transformed this campus into more than just a place to learn.
The professors offer engaging classes and diverse teaching styles, but not so different that it gets confusing to translate these skills between courses. There are very few professors whom I haven’t enjoyed during my time at Moravian, and I am so thankful for that fact.
When you bump into professors on campus, it’s hard not to have a conversation with them.
And it’s not just professors who shape this sense of belonging, it’s the students, the staff, even the small moments in the dining hall or sitting out by the Sally.
The size of Moravian helps, because you can’t walk across campus without passing at least three people you know, and more often than not, you’ll stop and chat. What might seem like an inconvenience at first becomes one of the best things about being here. You aren’t anonymous; you’re part of a found family of friendships, mentorships, and familiar faces.
The community also shows itself in times of hardship. When students are struggling, whether personally, academically, or financially, there is always someone willing to offer support. Moravian is the kind of place where people will hold doors open, share notes if you missed a class, or just sit with you when you need company. In bigger schools, it’s easy to feel like just another body in the lecture hall, but not here, not when the professor locks eyes with you during their lecture.
There’s also a spirit of collaboration rather than competition. Students here tend to celebrate each other’s successes, whether it’s someone presenting at a conference, performing in a play, or scoring a winning goal.
Even the traditions foster community. From Heritage Day to Vespers, from HoundFest to SpringFest, there are countless moments when the whole campus comes together. These events are fun reminders that we belong to something bigger than ourselves.
The professors may be the heart of Moravian, but the community as a whole is its soul. The kindness, encouragement, and care ripple outward, creating an atmosphere where people can be themselves.
The community here can’t be quantified in a ranking or described by a single statistic. It’s in the small moments, the conversation with a professor who believes in you, the classmate who shares their umbrella on a rainy day, the staff member who remembers your name. It’s in the way people care enough to notice, to reach out, to encourage, which makes Moravian the home it is.
