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Ashley Pritchard '09 has built an impressive global career since graduating from Lehigh University, including working for the United Nations, documenting human rights abuses in Myanmar, and combating hate speech on Facebook.

A founding member of Lehigh’s International Advisory Council, Pritchard credits the university's international focus with helping shape and inform her career. And last month, she returned to her alma mater’s main campus for the first time in five years.

“It was great to be back, and it was great to see how much has changed, and how focused on innovation Lehigh University continues to be,” Pritchard said.

Over the course of a three-day campus visit, Pritchard participated in an LU/UN Partnership panel discussion, and gave guest lectures in both economics and Lehigh@NasdaqCenter’s Innovation Internship program.

She also met one-on-one with students and faculty, participated in the Community Service Office’s Wonderful World of Sports, and delivered a keynote address for the Martindale Center for the Study of Private Enterprise.

Pritchard noted several significant and impressive changes at Lehigh since her last visit, including new facilities such as the College of Health and Business Innovation Building, as well as specialized centers like the Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience and the first undergraduate minor in education from Lehigh’s College of Education.

“Centers and programs like this reflect innovation and help distinguish Lehigh University internationally,” Pritchard said. “Hearing about the new initiatives happening with professors and students in these centers made me think, ‘Wow, I wish that was around when I was at Lehigh!’”

Pritchard currently works as a product program manager at Meta Platforms, the company that owns Facebook, where she advises on elections, civil unrest, and crises in vulnerable countries, including how to combat hate speech that targets marginalized communities.

Before that, Pritchard spent eight years in Myanmar, working in 2015 to help shepherd the country’s historic democratic election. She also documented human rights abuses in international refugee camps housing the persecuted Rohingya people.

Panel Highlights Gender Advocacy

During her Lehigh visit, Pritchard participated in the panel discussion “Gender Advocacy Around the World.” Other panelists included Gloria L. Blackwell, CEO of the American Association of University Women; Shoghik Mikayelyan, Executive Director & co-founder of Nor Luyce Mentoring Center for Youth; and C’fine Okorochukwu, founder & CEO of Centre for Public Health.

The March 20 event was held as part of the LU/UN Partnership’s ongoing 20th anniversary celebration. The panel focused on a global spectrum of gender advocacy issues, including bullying of school-aged girls in Armenia, domestic violence against women in Nigeria, and gender pay gaps and workplace disparities in the United States.

Pritchard shared her experiences working with women in parliament in Myanmar, as well as women in Silicon Valley to promote awareness of stock equity and salary negotiations. She discussed how women often lack support or knowledge when negotiating employment contracts. She co-founded a network in the Bay Area to educate and empower women in this regard.

“One question we discussed was, ‘Why is it important for women to be in leadership?’” Pritchard said. “To be candid, I can’t believe it’s 2025 and we’re still being asked that question. Yet at the same time, it’s important to continue to have the conversation despite the slow progress.”

One student asked how to navigate board meetings where no one looks like her. Ashley shared a 3-step strategy: find a role model in the room if possible, consult a bench of mentors, and build allyship within the room with people who amplify—not appropriate—your ideas.

Keynote to Martindale Scholars

Pritchard also delivered the keynote address at the Martindale Center’s 2025 induction dinner, which brings together the center’s junior class and their families with graduating seniors, faculty, staff, Martindale alumni, and Lehigh senior officers.

During her speech, Pritchard addressed both incoming Martindale students traveling to Croatia and outgoing students publishing research from Taiwan. She shared key takeaways from her own Martindale experience that still shape her career, like the importance of writing and communications, having a strong professional network and the support of professors, and a problem-solving framework.

Through her experience with Martindale as a student, Pritchard developed a methodical approach she applies in all fields—ask questions, identify needs, execute solutions. This model helped her navigate crises in Myanmar and now guides her work in the tech industry.

Pritchard said undergraduate publications helped her stand out in securing her first job at the United Nations, where she worked for two years after graduating Lehigh. Her experience interacting with diplomats and political leaders through Martindale also helped build her confidence, providing skills that translated directly to helping lead Myanmar through elections.

Guest Lecture and Student Engagement

Additionally, Pritchard gave a guest economics lecture at the College of Business, which focused on the societal implications of artificial intelligence. She discussed both its opportunities and potential risks, as well as how emerging technologies are reshaping fields such as education and health.

She also attended an event hosted by Wonderful World of Sports, a student-led initiative Pritchard herself helped launch as a student. The program lets middle-school children from South Bethlehem come on campus and interact 1:1 with Lehigh students and student athletes; playing games, exploring global issues and talking about a ‘day in the life of a Lehigh student.’.

“It was so exciting to see how the Community Service Office has grown this program together with the South Bethlehem community,” Pritchard said.

“It is incredible to see how the Community Service Office has deepened their ability to build well-rounded global leaders of the next generation; in Lehigh students, in the South Bethlehem community, and beyond,” she said. “The Community Service Office shaped a huge part of who I am today, and I’m excited by the programs and opportunities that the CSO provides to Lehigh students in shaping the next generation of global leaders.”