SPN is pleased to welcome Ayana Thomas to the team as our new Program Associate. In this role, Ayana coordinates and provides support for key projects of the Leadership Development Initiative team. Ayana received her bachelor’s in economics from Charleston Southern University, and she is a graduate of SPN’s 2019 Development Apprentice Program.

Ayana’s Story

There have been a series of moments that inspired me to choose work that’s dedicated to the cause of freedom and human flourishing. I grew up in rural south Georgia where the healthcare options aren’t always the best. I started undergrad with plans of attending medical school and then going back to Georgia to practice medicine.

After I took a few economics classes, I realized that so many issues in healthcare really start with the policies that are (or in some cases, are not) in place. After doing more research on free-market solutions, I decided that this where I wanted to dedicate my time and energy to get better healthcare solutions at home and across the country.

During my sophomore year of college, I had a professor who was very involved with the Institute for Humane Studies. He recommended me for one of their Summer Seminars and I’ve been excited about promoting freedom ideas ever since.

I first heard about SPN through an email for the Development Apprentice Program (DAP). I was selected for the 2018 Development Apprentice Program and truly loved the experience. When I saw there was an opening for a Program Associate at SPN, I was excited for the opportunity and applied.

In this Network, I love the general enthusiasm and passion that people have for the work they do. Even when things don’t go as planned or preferred, they are still optimistic about what’s next.

For other inspiration, I listen to a variety of policy podcasts from across the spectrum. It’s interesting to hear ideas that I don’t necessarily agree with, and it gives me a better idea of where the other side is coming from.

Behind the Scenes

If you had one piece of advice for others considering a career like yours, what would it be?

I would recommend keeping an open mind when presented with opportunities. Even if it is not your dream internship or job, still consider applying. You never know what you will learn or what connections you could make that will bring you to that dream job.

When you’re not improving the world at work, where are you likely to be found? What is a hobby of yours?

I currently live in West Palm Beach, Florida, so I am at the beach a lot, reading and taking in the sunshine with my dog, Frankie. I am an avid reader of just about any genre, a huge fan of thrift stores, and I love visiting museums. I recently took up golfing, so we’ll see how that goes.