Shepherd Program
Shepherd Program
The Shepherd Program for the Interdisciplinary Study of Poverty and Human Capability incorporates a spirit of engagement and service into students’ extra-curricular and academic lives. Shepherd students learn how to understand and address the causes and consequences of poverty and inequality in ways that respect the dignity of every person, through community engagement and academic offerings, including a minor and internship opportunities.
Students weave poverty-related courses across disciplines (economics, education, law, philosophy, politics, sociology, and more) with hands-on service and internship experiences to supplement their major areas of study. Those pursuing a minor in poverty studies undertake capstone research projects that connect their concerns about poverty and inequality with their future civic and professional lives.
For over 25 years, The Shepherd Program has supported student leadership and service opportunities in the local Rockbridge area and beyond. Understanding the causes and consequences of poverty requires direct collaboration with community partners.
Shepherd in the News
Students and graduates of the Shepherd Program are involved all over campus and all over the world.
Campus Kitchen Announces 2024-25 Just Food Series
The annual event series examines the ways in which food systems interact with issues of social justice.
W&L students share their experiences getting to know the larger Lexington and Rockbridge community during the summer months.
Cultivating a Community of Care
Through the Davis Projects for Peace Grant and a Fulbright ETA, Allie Stankewich ’23 is building relationships with the communities she serves in East Africa.
W&L Outcomes: Lucy Donahue ’24
After graduation, Donahue is working as a financial analyst at Amazon and pursuing her CPA.
Siya ’27 married her passions for service with her economics and mathematics majors to intern this summer at Grameen Bank in Bangladesh through the Shepherd Program.
Addie-Grace Cook ’25, a politics major with a double minor in Middle East and South Asia studies and poverty and human capability studies, is spending her summer making an impact in the greater Rockbridge community through a Shepherd Program internship with Project Horizon.
Melos Ambaye ’25 is helping children in Ethiopia as part of her Shepherd summer internship.
Campus Kitchen at Washington and Lee Receives Donation from Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation
The donation will support the Campus Kitchen Backpack Program.
W&L’s Tanajia Moye-Green Among 2024 Class of Knight-Hennessy Scholars
Moye-Green ’23 is the university’s first Knight-Hennessy Scholar.
Commemorating 25 Years of Service
Nabors Service League continues to honor the late Jonathan Nabors ’02 by bringing students together to help the greater Rockbridge area.
Annual Souper Bowl Raises Money for W&L’s Backpack Program
This year’s event raised more than $10,000 to support the Campus Kitchen’s hunger-fighting project.
W&L’s Campus Kitchen Hosts 12th Annual Souper Bowl
All proceeds from the Feb. 4 event will support the Campus Kitchen at W&L’s Backpack Program.