Tanya Ansahta Garnett has two decades of experience as an academic in the United States and Liberia, specializing in international development and gender studies. She is passionate about strengthening pedagogy and curriculum with innovative approaches targeting youth and mid-career professionals. Dr. Garnett considers herself a Professor of Practice, and brings her experience as a technical adviser, researcher, facilitator, gender expert, singer/songwriter and musical performer into the classroom, bridging the gap between theory, practice, academia and the arts.

She obtained her doctorate degree in International Development from Tulane University Law School. Her research interests have focused on gender and development, women’s political participation, peace processes, and post-conflict societies. Dr. Garnett is the Director of the University of Liberia's Ibrahim B. Babangida School for International Studies, Acting Associate Dean of the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities, and an Assistant Professor at the College of Gender Studies and Interdisciplinary Research. Dr. Garnett launched a feminist research firm in 2021, Nunlai Research & Consulting, exploring the nexus between gender and development, stakeholder and community engagement, and sustainable natural resource management.

Gaya Verse is the musical encounter between Dr. Garnett, ReggaeDub musician and producer Highmas a.k.a. Samuel Vlieghe, and pianist Mickael Vlieghe. The musical reverberation is a soul-jazz-reggae-dub fusion, which seeks to expand the positive impact of learning through the powerful art of music.