Grace Hayden grew up in Baltimore County, Maryland, and got her first taste of politics when she ran for class president in fifth grade. She lost — which only motivated her more. Grace went on to serve as class president all four years of high school. Later, at the University of Maryland, she represented off-campus students in student government and served as its director of health and wellness.
An internship with her hometown congressman, Dutch Ruppersberger, introduced Grace to Capitol Hill. “I fell in love with it the second I got there,” Grace said. She continued building her career on the Hill and today serves as a legislative assistant for Congressman Johnny Olszewski, handling his much of his domestic policy and supporting his work on the U.S. House Committee on Small Business.
Her work with the committee helped inspire Grace to pursue an MBA at Georgetown University. Both of her parents are certified public accountants, and while she grew up with a strong understanding of finance, she wanted to deepen her own knowledge of business. “I feel very privileged to be a student again,” Grace said. “It’s been rewarding learning about the fundamentals of business.”
Grace was drawn to the Bryce Harlow Foundation’s emphasis on bipartisanship, and looks forward to learning from her mentors, Alison Bodor and Hanna Abou, as she continues to shape the direction of her career. “I’m honored the Foundation believed in me,” Grace said. “I’m very grateful to be a part of this mentorship-focused program.”
