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Ashley Pritchard ‘09 has had a remarkable career since graduating from Lehigh University. She has worked for the United Nations, helped shepherd Myanmar’s historic first democratic election, and combated hate speech and misinformation on Facebook and Meta Platforms.

Pritchard’s story was recently featured in a two-page spread in the Fall 2024 issue of Lehigh’s Alumni Bulletin, highlighting her international career and the ways in which her Lehigh education helped prepare her for it.

“I got my professional start thanks to Lehigh University,” Pritchard said in the story. “Lehigh's commitment to international understanding and its network opened doors for me. It was the integral starting point that launched my entire career, enabling me to work on issues I deeply care about.”

Read the full story in the Fall 2024 issue of the Alumni Bulletin, available online and at key locations across campus. The story is a version of a feature previous published on the Global Lehigh news site.

In September, Pritchard joined the inaugural International Advisory Council, a group of esteemed global business leaders who will provide strategic guidance and advocacy to Lehigh’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), enhancing the university’s global engagement initiatives.

The International Advisory Council will advise key university leaders and bolster Lehigh’s execution of its strategic vision, enhance the university’s community and environment, and reinforce its commitment to excellence in learning, scholarship, and engagement.

"The council brings together a distinguished group of leaders whose expertise and global perspectives will help guide Lehigh’s international strategy," said Cheryl Matherly, Vice President and Vice Provost for International Affairs at Lehigh. "Their insights and connections will be invaluable as we continue to expand Lehigh’s global engagement and impact."

Pritchard worked at the United Nations for two years following her graduation from Lehigh. She was later awarded a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship to pursue her master’s degree in international development at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

After graduating, she worked and lived in Myanmar for eight years, contributing to the country’s efforts to establish democratic processes. Pritchard went on to advocate for rule of law reform in Myanmar and lead large-scale human rights investigations, most notably in examining the alleged persecutions and killings of the Rohingya people.

After returning to the United States in 2019, Pritchard was recruited by Meta Platforms for a job at the company’s Trust and Safety department. Her team there focused on developing products aimed at combating hate speech and removing content that incites violence against minorities

Pritchard credits Lehigh for launching her career. She values her involvement with Lehigh’s international education programs, her time in the Community Service Office (CSO), and the Lehigh University/United Nations Partnership, which helped her secure her first job at the U.N.