Not Your Average Summer Diversion: Student Norah Clancy Enjoys A Seat At NATO Summit

Norah Clancy ’26 transferred to Keene State after one semester of college in Florida, but she never could have imagined all that a year of being an Owl would bring.

She’s soaking up a summer to remember, highlighted by having a seat at the recent NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., where she rubbed elbows with heads of state including presidents and prime ministers, senators, and dignitaries representing the 32 nations that comprise the alliance.

“Eye-opening,” “amazing,” and “inspiring” are words Norah, a communication and philosophy major from Amherst, N.H., uses to describe the experience.

If Norah had doubts about a career helping to shape global policy, especially around climate change and the environment, consider them erased.

“I have a new appreciation for the importance of diverse perspectives and I believe more strongly than ever that I can play a role in assuring a more peaceful and sustainable future,” she said on the heels of the summit. “I also have a newfound confidence as a woman in such an important role.”

I have a new appreciation for the importance of diverse perspectives and I believe more strongly than ever that I can play a role in assuring a more peaceful and sustainable future. I also have a newfound confidence as a woman in such an important role.”

– Norah Clancy

Norah was a guest of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, and while her chance to be inside the ropes for this high-profile event was once in a lifetime, it is the kind of real-world experience our students are familiar with. Norah is among the 55 percent of Keene State students who participate in field experiences or internships to strengthen job qualifications and appeal.

On a three-year track to graduation, Norah was interning at the Washington Center in the nation’s capital when she got the out-of-the-blue invite from New Hampshire’s senior senator.

Hundreds of colleges and universities, government agencies, and public and private organizations partner with The Center to provide students with professional development opportunities. Part of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Government and Corporate Affairs team, Norah has lobbied on Capitol Hill, sat in on important briefings, and attended an International Humanitarian Law class taught by world-renowned Professor Max Hillaire.

The summit marks NATO’s 75th year as a military, political, and humanitarian alliance. Formed in the wake of World War II as a bulwark against the threat posed by the Soviet Union, NATO is a collective defense for more than one billion citizens in Europe and North America.

It was three days of discussion and sessions focused on front-burner global issues, including ongoing support for Ukraine, nuclear deterrence policy, and stepped-up military presence in the eastern part of the Alliance in response to Russia’s aggression.

Norah says she could fill a day talking about the summit, but singled out these moments among the highlights of her front-row seat at the historic gathering:

Hearing U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, a retired four-star general, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speak; meeting Sen. Shaheen and North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who work together as co-chairs of the Senate NATO observer group; and feeling empowered by the words of the female prime ministers of Denmark and Estonia, Mette Frederiksen and Kaja Kallas, respectively, and the other members of the Women, Peace, and Security panel.

“As a young woman aspiring to enter a historically male-dominated field of policy, I couldn’t help but be moved by their confident and assertive presence…and Sen. Shaheen’s warmth and attentiveness made me feel valued and supported.”

Norah says her heart is in New Hampshire and the move home was everything she needed. Her experience at Keene State, an hour from Amherst, has been everything she hoped, further validating her decision to transfer.

“It has offered the supportive, vibrant, and challenging environment I was looking for, including an education rooted in self-discovery. It’s a place where I have been able to thrive academically and personally.”

Her excellent summer – some planned, some not; some routine, some anything but – not only bolsters her resume but leaves her with a story to tell for a lifetime.

“I know now how important it is to trust yourself and focus on what feels right for you rather than trying to impress others or follow their expectations,” Norah said. “Find a place, like I did in Keene State, where you can take your learning outside the classroom, travel, and enrich your time in college.”

There may not be a NATO Summit at the end of every student’s internship rainbow, but there is no way to know unless you find a college that encourages such possibilities and helps you to look.