Meet Hayden Peper, UVAFinance Communications Generalist

Welcome, Hayden!

After getting to know UVAFinance as a student worker and part-time team member, Hayden Peper has officially joined the Communications team full-time as a Communications Generalist!

A University of Virginia graduate with degrees in psychology and English, Peper brings a love of storytelling, learning, and connecting with people to her role. She's already a familiar voice behind many UVAFinance blog posts, but this time, we're turning the spotlight on her.

Peper's responsibilities have grown to include developing blog content, creating graphics, coordinating email communications, and supporting outreach across the Finance community. One of her favorite parts of the job is translating information from different Finance departments into engaging, accessible stories for readers who may not be familiar with the University's financial operations.

As a student worker, she collaborated primarily with a smaller group of colleagues. Now, she's connecting with people throughout UVAFinance and gaining a better understanding of how their work fits together.

For Peper, working at UVA offers a new perspective on a place she's known for much of her life. Having grown up in the Charlottesville area and later attended UVA, she's experienced the University as both a community member and a student. Now, she's gaining an appreciation for the people and processes that keep the institution running.

"What is most mind-boggling to me is how many people it takes for just one department to keep this university running," she said.

She's also been struck by the ways Finance employees connect directly with students and the broader University community, something she hadn't fully appreciated during her time as a student.

Peper's curiosity extends well beyond her communications work. After discovering an interest in speech-language pathology through experiences shadowing professionals in a local clinic and working with children as a support teacher, she's now completing post-baccalaureate coursework in speech and hearing sciences through an online University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire program. She plans to pursue a master's degree in speech-language pathology.

These days, Peper calls Washington, D.C., home, where she enjoys exploring historic neighborhoods, visiting museums, discovering new restaurants, and spending time with friends. She's also developed an interest in collecting tiny art prints from vending machines scattered throughout the D.C. area, turning her walks into miniature treasure hunts.

Although she's enjoying city life, Charlottesville still holds a special place in her heart. She misses the Blue Ridge Mountains and walking local trails with her dog, Blue, and she looks forward to returning for visits.

We're delighted to welcome Hayden to her full-time role with UVAFinance and look forward to the stories, connections, and creative contributions she'll bring to the team!

Hayden's Spooky-Season Reading Recommendations

Hayden's enthusiasm for Gothic literature makes her an excellent source for spooky-season reading recommendations. Here are her top picks:

• Rebecca – Daphne du Maurier
• The Haunting of Hill House – Shirley Jackson
• The Stepford Wives – Ira Levin
• Bunny – Mona Awad