2023
Alex Aide
Director of Programs and Impact , Born This Way Foundation
Photo by Anna Sobol .
KRISTEN UPPERCUE
ALEX AIDE , director of programs and impact at Born This Way Foundation ( BTWF ), grew up in Ronceverte , WV . His grandfather founded the department store Aide ’ s Discount Stores , which expanded from West Virginia into other states — something Aide also envisioned himself doing .
“ I grew up ‘ managing ’ the toy department at the store near our house in Lewisburg . That entailed some pretty hefty job requirements like playing with all the toys on the shelves ,” Aide says . “ Joking aside , I did see myself one day running my own stores , especially when my family decided to shut down the business in the mid- ‘ 90s . While life has taken my family and me off the path of running retail stores , I do believe I have my grandfather ’ s entrepreneurial spirit in everything I do .”
Aide attended West Virginia University ( WVU ), where he received his bachelor ’ s degree in accounting after trying two other majors first , pre-pharmacy and political science . He graduated Summa Cum Laude then attended WVU College of Law , where he graduated in 2013 .
Aide says law school was tough , so much so that he considered dropping out right up until his name was called at commencement .
“ I was not the greatest law student by any objective measure , but I didn ’ t give up . I stayed . I completed my assignments . I studied . I somehow passed my exams each semester , despite telling myself over and over again I was surely going to fail ,” he says .
Aide says his mentor , Jennifer Powell , current assistant dean for student services and engagement at WVU College of Law , encouraged him to keep going .
“ She saw something special in me , and that made all the difference during and after law school ,” he says .
Aide ’ s cousins , Drew Pendleton and Townley Hamilton , also encouraged him .
“ All of my family was so supportive of me no matter what , but my cousins Drew and Townley really went out of their way to check in on me , listen to me and encourage me that I could do anything in the world if I stayed in school ,” he says .
During school , Aide received the Exemplary Student Organization of the Year Award while he was president of OUTlaw , WVU College of Law ’ s
LGBTQ + advocacy organization , and the Individual Presenter Award for Best Public Speaking Presentation on Entrepreneurial Client Issues . Aide was also a finalist for the National LGBTQ + Bar Association ’ s Student Leadership Award and a nominee for the Legacy Award for greatest impact on the law school .
“ All three years brought new challenges and new successes , and I showed up at graduation like it was the finish line to a marathon ,” Aide says .
While still in law school , Aide ’ s first job was a summer internship at Lambda Legal , the oldest and largest legal organization in the U . S . dedicated to the civil rights of LGBTQ + people . Here , Aide had the opportunity to support his employers working on litigation and advocacy efforts for securing and protecting equality under the law , including housing , immigration , employment , health care and school .
“ There were wins in and outside of my job during this time , and I ’ ve learned since this job how fragile those rights are . So much has been achieved in the LGBTQ + rights movement over the past decade , but now this community is under exponentially increasing attack by the day ,” Aide says .
Following law school , Aide chose an unconventional career path , focusing on philanthropy and advocacy . He served as a fellow at Propper Daley in Los Angeles , where he supported clients such as Disney and Viacom and assisted in developing effective charitable and social impact strategies .
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE