A Diplomacy Alumna’s Global Impact Story: Tajah McCray

Meet Tajah McCray ’22, an alumna of the master's program at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations. McCray is currently serving in Dominica as a Peace Corps Volunteer Leader (PCVL).  In this role, she assists new volunteers through training and mentorship. McCray also helps develop and implement community projects and grants, and collaborates with Peace Corps staff in the Eastern Caribbean. Recently, she's  been working with students at a local primary school to support their literacy development. Over the summer, McCray directed a writing camp that helped students strengthen their writing skills through lessons focused on climate change and  environmental stewardship. 

Reflecting on her time at Seton Hall, McCray said that graduate school provided the academic skills she was seeking along with the inspiration to actively participate in public and citizen diplomacy. In her current role, she strives to promote mutual understanding—building a more accurate and positive perception of Americans while also learning from the people and culture of her host country.

As part of her first-year graduate experience, McCray completed a research-focused internship at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). She also interned with the Wadhwani Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies, where she explored U.S.-India higher education partnerships and policies. McCray's research involved tracking current events in India, managing the U.S.-India higher education database, and creating and distributing assessment surveys.

In her second year of graduate school,  McCray interned with the U.S. Congress in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In that role, she reviewed and edited proposed committee bills, wrote policy memos, and lobbied representatives to sponsor the chairman's proposed bills.

Reflecting on her academic experience, McCray shared:

Seton Hall University’s School of Diplomacy gave me the invaluable chance to complete my internships. These experiences enhanced my ability to adapt quickly, work efficiently, communicate effectively, and maintain high precision—skills that have been essential during my Peace Corps service. I’m especially grateful for Seton Hall’s Semester in D.C. program; without it, I wouldn't have gained access to such rigorous internship opportunities or the valuable perspectives they provided.

Through her internships in Washington, D.C.,  McCray gained firsthand experience in potential career paths within think tanks and the U.S. government. Her coursework in international development and community engagement also helped foster a deep passion for public service and policy.

McCray showed a strong interest in leadership and community service carried through her time at Seton Hall where she was a member of the Public Policy New Voices Fellowship, treasurer of the Black Diplomacy Student Organization, and the associate editor of the Seton Hall Journal of Diplomacy and International Relations. These leadership roles sharpened her ability to lead with empathy, communicate across cultures, and inspire collective action, qualities that would later define her Peace Corps service.

McCray, whose family hails from Trinidad,  says that her current work in the eastern Caribbean is especially important to her personally. She has been able to connect more deeply with the culture and environment of the region while contributing to the development of the island community.

Through her work with the Peace Corps, McCray proudly upholds Seton Hall’s legacy of public service by promoting sustainable development and inclusive volunteerism. Her journey stands as a testament to the University’s success in inspiring alumni who transform academic knowledge and field experience into meaningful global impact.

For students studying at the School of Diplomacy, McCray recommends:

My best advice is to avoid letting fear dictate your decisions; instead, trust in the Lord to lead you. Stay open-minded and be willing to adapt to whatever the journey brings.

Categories: Alumni, Nation and World