TaLaya became a Student Athlete Academic Coordinator for VCU in June. Prior to VCU, she worked a stint at George Mason as a Student-Athlete Assistant Education Specialist with at-risk students, helping them develop weekly objectives, time management skills, semester planning, and overall study-skills. While at Mason, she graduated with a Master’s of Arts in Higher Education and Student Development.

TaLaya earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Radford in Fashion Design, and is a member of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated.

A native of Martinsville, Virginia, TaLaya calls herself an Academic Advisor by day and Fashion Designer by night. In 2018, she was named the ACHI Magazine Fashion Designer of the Year.