Hadley became the Seminars Manager at the Aspen Institute in June 2013. Prior to her current position, she spent nine years as a consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton. Her favorite assignment was working in Stuttgart, Germany for U.S. Africa Command for nearly three years, where she worked in the Strategic Communication Division and served as the Interagency Coordinator. In Washington, DC, she supported numerous institutes within the NIH in a project management role, and assisted with international health initiatives, such as the Supply Chain Management System (SCMS), a component of PEPFAR.
Originally from Atlanta, she attended Davidson College where she majored in history and spent a semester abroad in Kenya, where her interest in Africa began. After college, she worked as a producer and writer at CNN in her hometown for three years. Her graduate work at the Fletcher School at Tufts University focused on international development and health security, culminating in her master’s thesis on AIDS in Africa as a security threat. She’s excited to be living in Colorado and is looking forward to her second ski season in Aspen.
Q: What attracted you to the Aspen Institute?
A: I had spent 9 years in the federal consulting business and was ready for a change in career. The Aspen Institute appealed to me because of its focus on leadership, intellectual rigor, policy programs, and big thinkers in various fields. The fact that my job would be in Aspen, Colorado was just a bonus!
Q: In what ways did your time at Davidson uniquely prepare you to be successful at the Aspen Institute?
A: One of the things that my interviewer (now boss) focused on was that I went to a liberal arts college. At Davidson I learned to ask probing questions, the importance of community, and had a broad based background which I could apply to the Institute’s many different programs.
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: I love that I get to know leaders from around the world and from different backgrounds who are dedicated to improving their communities. It’s incredibly inspiring and makes me feel good about humanity.
Q: What advice would you give to students thinking of applying for the summer internship with the Aspen Institute?
A: Emphasize flexibility, motivation, strength in details/administration, and desire to have a meaningful learning experience. It’s an unforgettable internship, and I’d love to get at least one Davidson student in Aspen here every summer.
Hadley and the Aspen Institute are participants in the 2014-2015 Internship & Job Challenge. To view the Summer 2015 internship description, visit WildcatLink. The application deadline is February 1, 2015 at 11:59pm.