Haley Waddell, '21

Haley Waddell, ’21, earned a bachelor’s degree in global affairs from George Mason University in May 2025. During college, she interned with the U.S. Marshals Service and spent a summer in London interning for Hand in Hand International, a global non-profit organization. Haley also participated in a summer program in Switzerland, where she was able to attend lectures by ambassadors and representatives from NATO, the EU, and the UN. Through these opportunities, she was able to see the UN and NATO headquarters and meet with high-ranking government officials. 

Haley is now pursuing a master’s degree in international security while working as a Program Analyst at the Department of Defense. Haley explains, “The department I work for provides cross-cutting solutions to enable the Department of Defense, the United States Government, and international partners to deter strategic attacks against the United States and its allies, and prevent, reduce, and counter weapons of mass destruction.” 

“ESA prepared me for college, especially when it came to writing,” Haley says. “I write papers constantly, and thanks to ESA’s strong academic foundation, I felt more than ready for the workload and expectations of college. ESA’s core teachings on collaboration and leadership also gave me a leg up during college. ESA was able to give me a really good foundation for my future career.”  

Haley's advice for our Falcons: “Take advantage of every opportunity to explore your interests, even if they push you out of your comfort zone. And don’t stress too much about having everything figured out; your path will come together as you go.”