“I can only hope that, through my involvement, I have helped to educate and inspire others to action to create a more equitable society and that they will continue to carry on the torch after I leave FSU.”
Katherine Hayden is passionate about getting the word out to college women about the “inequalities we face here at home, in the composition of the legislatures, and in the workplace.” To help with this, she started the FSU chapter of the National Organization for Women to help spread awareness and start action for equal pay and the equal rights amendment. Additionally, in the community she works as the Equal Rights Alliance Regional Coordinator to help educate women about the equal rights amendment in Florida and to help lobby legislators on the subject.
In the past four years, Katherine has been involved with the Student Government Association as a student senator, with the Office of Legislative Affairs, and on the executive cabinet with women’s affairs. Katherine took her interest in politics to London, where she was an intern with the House of Commons for a semester, and she continues to be engaged in state politics.
She is also a member of Alpha Chi Omega Panhellenic Sorority which supports women’s issues, especially domestic violence awareness. “Just like the wage gap women face in the workplace, most college women don’t know how prevalent domestic abuse is in our society and on college campuses.”
Katherine also served as a Freshman Interest Group Leader for Pre-law, a student justice on the Student Rights and Responsibilities Judicial Board, as well as a member of the Student Alumni Leadership Council and the Ethics Bowl Team. She is also a part of Omicron Delta Kappa, Garnet and Gold Key Leadership Honorary Society, Golden Key, and Phi Eta Sigma.
Academically, Katherine graduated Magna Cum Laude with a double major in Political Science and Social Science in Spring 2009. She plans to attend graduate school for Economics.
“The organizations and people that have been a part of my life while at Florida State have shaped who I have become. I can only hope that, through my involvement, I have helped to educate and inspire others to action to create a more equitable society and that they will continue to carry on the torch after I leave FSU. I have committed myself to continuing to pursue leadership and involvement in women’s issues, so that one day women will all receive the equal pay they deserve.”