Nayanda M Moore

Nayanda M. is an adjunct writing instructor with experience teaching writers across a range of academic and community contexts. She currently teaches first-year writing courses at New York University and Creative Nonfiction and African American Women's History to returning adults at the City College of New York Center for Worker Education, where she incorporates music, film, and other multimodal texts to deepen students’ engagement with writing as both critical practice and creative expression.

A non-traditional student, Nayanda earned her BA in Humanities with a concentration in Creative Writing from the NYU School of Professional Studies while working full-time and raising a family. She went on to complete an MA in Language and Literacy from The City College of New York, a graduate program focused on language development, literacy theory and practice, and instructional strategies for adult and college-level writers.

Before transitioning into education, Nayanda worked in the private sector, most recently as an assistant property manager with Douglas Elliman. Drawing on this professional experience in operations, communication, and client relations, she brings a practical, real-world perspective to her classroom teaching.

In addition to her work at NYU, Nayanda has taught GED preparation classes at the College of New Rochelle and provides creative writing instruction for Youth Transitions to Work, a program supported by New Jersey’s 1199 Training and Development Fund, where she helps young adults develop writing skills for academic and professional growth. Her instructional career reflects a sustained commitment to accessible, learner-centered teaching across age groups and educational backgrounds.

Nayanda’s pedagogical approach emphasizes multimodal literacy and the interconnectedness of writing with cultural forms that shape students’ lives. She encourages learners to think critically about how writing functions in media, music, and everyday communication, fostering confidence, clarity, and agency in their writing processes.

She has presented at regional forums of the Two-Year College English Association (TYCA), sharing classroom practices that support diverse writers. In 2024, Nayanda self-published From Pen to Peace: Integrating Reiki and Writing for Transformation, a work that explores the intersection of embodied practice and writing as a tool for reflection and personal growth.

Her teaching and creative work are driven by a commitment to helping writers discover and refine their voices, connect their personal experiences to broader cultural narratives, and navigate varied writing environments with skill and insight.

Publications

• Short story: Wolfie By Promethean: Literary Journal of the City College (null)
• Short story: BJ By Unboxed Voices Anthology,Vol. 1 (May 01 2013)
• Poem: Fortitude By Dovetail: The 2011 McGhee Review (Jan 20 2011)