Hayden Pierce graduated with honors from the University of Mississippi in May of 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in international studies, economics, and Spanish. His studies explored the impact of foreign investment on community development, particularly through corporate social responsibility. Hayden spent a semester abroad in Ecuador, where he performed thesis research on El Mirador, a Chinese copper mine in the Amazon rainforest. 

As a student, Hayden held various leadership positions in the Associated Student Body and was elected by his peers as Senator of the Year in his final term. His advocacy primarily centered on affordable housing, working with the university and the City of Oxford to develop housing solutions for students and community members. Hayden also held leadership positions in Model United Nations, UNICEF, and the Economics Club. 

Hayden was born and raised in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. He found a passion for state government assisting with grants management and research projects during two summer internships with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. In his free time, Hayden enjoys playing tennis, hiking, and going to concerts.