Ashley Hall News & Blog

Alumnae Spotlight: 
Nancy Hagood '10October 1, 2026

Since its founding, Ashley Hall has remained committed to educating girls and young women to be independent, ethically responsible, and prepared to meet the challenges of their world with confidence. Dr. Nancy Hagood’s journey is that mission brought vividly to life. From competing as a Varsity sailor at Georgetown and serving in the U.S. Navy Reserve to delivering medical care in Haiti and Tanzania, she has built a career around service, adaptability, and deep personal care for others. Today, as an academic hospitalist at MUSC, Internal Medicine Clerkship Director, and Director of Global Health Education, she leads with humility and champions the next generation of healthcare leaders.

We caught up with her recently for some reflections on how her time at Ashley Hall helped shape her path and career. Read on to hear from Nancy on her path to medicine, the military lessons that keep her flexible, and how she helped coin one of Ashley Hall’s most enduring modern traditions. 

Q&A with Dr. Nancy Hagood '10

Q: Tell us a little about where life has taken you since Ashley Hall. What are you doing today?

Nancy: Life has taken me to many wonderful places! After graduating from Ashley Hall, I attended Georgetown University. I competed on the Varsity Sailing Team there and had the opportunity to travel all over the country. After college, I earned my medical degree, completed combined residency training in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, and earned a Master of Public Health at MUSC. In addition, I spent extended time working with hospitals and clinics in Haiti and Tanzania and served in the US Navy Reserve for 4 years.

I currently work as an academic hospitalist at MUSC and serve as Internal Medicine Clerkship Director and Director of Global Health Education for MUSC’s College of Medicine. Outside of work, I love to run, surf, and spend time with my two nephews and five amazing godchildren.

Q: Was there a teacher, coach, class, tradition, or experience at Ashley Hall that had a lasting impact on you?

Nancy: Yes to all of the above! I attended Ashley Hall for 14 years, and the people and experiences I encountered there shaped me into the person I am today. Suzanne Kennerty was my advisor and AP Economics teacher. I loved her class so much that I chose to major in Economics at Georgetown. When my dad was diagnosed with cancer during my first semester of college, the first person to call me and check on me was Coach B (Sam Barlotta). Coach B was my basketball and soccer coach for 5 years at Ashley Hall, and I still think of him as one of the most formative figures in my life.

I was part of the Spirit of South Carolina’s* maiden voyage with Ashley Hall in 2008; thinking about that experience still sparks a sense of adventure and resilience in me. To this day, my Ashley Hall classmates are some of my closest friends.

*The Spirit of South Carolina was the ship sailed by the first-ever Offshore Leadership Program (OLP) voyage at Ashley Hall, which has since become a signature program for the School.  

Q: What is one lesson you’ve learned since graduating that you wish you could share with your younger self?

Nancy: When I was at Navy Officer Development School, our Chief Petty Officer would intentionally mess with us and change orders at the last minute. As we scrambled to change directions and follow a new plan, he would smile and say, 'Semper Gumby'. If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be that. Semper Gumby. Life is full of surprises – some good and some not so good. When plans fall apart, or life feels chaotic, I try to remind myself to adapt and stay flexible.

Q: What have you learned about leadership from working alongside communities and healthcare professionals globally?

Nancy: I have seen many different leadership styles through sports, the military, medicine, education, and even in different countries, having partnered with leaders in Haiti and Tanzania. I believe the common denominator of all good leaders is that they care deeply about individual people. The phrase 'people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care' really is true. Good leaders care about how their actions affect others; they don’t always get it right, but they are humble enough to admit it and try again.

Q: What advice would you give Ashley Hall students interested in medicine or healthcare careers?

Nancy: Don’t do it alone! I had an unconventional path to medical school. I studied Economics and Theology at Georgetown. A career in medicine never crossed my mind until about halfway through college when my dad was undergoing treatment for blood cancer, and my eyes were opened to the care and healing that takes place inside of hospitals. I assumed everyone else had been pre-med since kindergarten, and I had no chance of becoming a doctor.

Two friends saw potential in me and called it out: one was my college teammate, and the other was a former Ashley Hall classmate. Because of their encouragement, I signed up for my first science class my senior year of college and then stayed for a 5th year to finish the pre-med coursework. Still today, I would not be where I am in my career without the support and guidance of mentors and colleagues. There is an African proverb that says, 'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together'. That is very true of medicine. Find a mentor, lean on your support system, and look for opportunities to pay it forward.

Q: What is something you’ve accomplished that you’re especially proud of?

Nancy: In all honesty, one of my proudest accomplishments is coining the phrase 'PQV'. When I was in Upper School, [former Head of School] Mrs. Muti made a push to bring the school motto back to life: Possunt Quae Volunt (girls who have the will have the ability). My classmate Becca Blank and I had perhaps a bit of an attitude and thought the Latin motto was a mouthful. We went online and designed oval PQV bumper stickers. We ordered 200 of them, distributed them around campus, and even snuck into Mrs. Muti’s office to leave an anonymous stack of stickers on her desk. We started chanting 'PQV' at the volleyball games that fall. 'PQV' stuck, and I think it may be my greatest and most lasting accomplishment.

Q: What does being an Ashley Hall alumna mean to you today?

Nancy: Being an Ashley Hall alumna means being part of a family. It is a legacy of women who have gone before me and who have used their gifts to make our community and our world a better place. An Ashley Hall education - being part of that family - is an extraordinary gift.

From inspiring future doctors to championing Possunt Quae Volunt in everything she does, Dr. Nancy Hagood exemplifies the true spirit of an Ashley Hall education. Her journey reminds us all that with flexibility, strong mentors, and a commitment to caring for others, there are no limits to where a passion for service can lead.

A Legacy of Connections

Nancy’s deep Ashley Hall roots run through generations of her family:

Derrill Hagood ’51 (Grandmother)
Penn Hagood (Mother, Faculty Member from 1996–2014)
Derrill Hagood McDavid ’09 (Sister)
Sallie Bennett Robinson ’00 (Cousin)
Marion Maybank ’01 (Cousin)
Katie Bennett Freer ’01 (Cousin)
Lizzie Hagood Currin ’07 (Cousin)