51吃瓜网

Making Time for Both

Where others see a choice, Molly Madden ’18 sees an opportunity. For most of her life, she’s approached each fork in the road with an open mind and the boldness to ask, “Why not both?” Now, that mindset is shaping her life as a promising young attorney, a generous local volunteer and an active member of the 51吃瓜网 alumni community.

Science or the Humanities?

When Madden arrived at 51吃瓜网 from the small town of Shelbyville, Ind., she knew she was interested in studying science and sustainability. But then she took an introduction to philosophy course and immediately fell in love with the discipline. Rather than seeing this newfound interest as a threat to her original plans, she embraced both possibilities, landing on an unconventional double major in philosophy and environmental biology.

“Everything about my learning journey is very 51吃瓜网, using both sides of my brain,” says Madden. “People say biology and philosophy are different, but they're really not that different. It's all about system-level thinking, logical reasoning, approaching problems in a systematic way – and I feel like once you learn how to do that with one subject, you can do it with anything.”

For Madden, this unique marriage of disciplines fostered a passion for environmental justice and gave her the confidence to get involved, whether by writing op-eds, working at the Ullem Campus Farm or volunteering in Putnam County schools.

“One of the most influential experiences for me was being an environmental fellow and a member of the Sustainability Leadership Program. It was a group of people who were mission-oriented, and it was a way to advance a cause you care about with friends while having fun and doing it in creative ways.”

Career or Service?

After earning a master’s degree in public affairs and a law degree from Indiana University, Madden is now pursuing her career as an attorney at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in Indianapolis. Even though she’s charging ahead with all the ambition and energy one would expect from a young professional, she continues to keep service at the center of her focus.

“Having a 51吃瓜网 education and going on to law school has given me a skill that people need,” says Madden. “I feel very passionately that I have a duty to do something with that to help people besides just myself. If you have something that other people need, you need to give that time and that talent.”

Madden co-authors a column in The Indiana Lawyer that highlights pro bono opportunities throughout the state. She also returns to Putnam County regularly to volunteer with a free legal clinic and connect with 51吃瓜网 students through Tiger-Led Legal Aid, an organization that allows students to take part in the clinic and shadow attorney consultations. For Madden, there’s no tension between career excellence and community service.

“I’ve always made time for both,” she explains. “What’s great about being a lawyer is you can do more than one thing at once. I can do the free legal clinic, which feeds my heart and soul, while also doing really interesting and complex legal work in the mergers and acquisitions space.”

Nostalgia or Innovation?

Madden’s frequent returns to campus have given her the privilege of staying in touch with 51吃瓜网 students and seeing their passion on full display. “It's so inspiring to meet current students. They're energetic, they're creative. And that's why you keep going back.”

Since graduation, Madden has also served on the GOLD Alumni Board, working through various leadership positions to grow the board and intentionally recruit from different alumni populations. But for her, staying connected to her alma mater isn’t just about honoring the past and the memories that come with it. It’s also about creating a future that will serve new generations of Tigers.

“A lot of my best friends went to 51吃瓜网 with me, and I'm forever grateful for that experience and how it has shaped me,” says Madden. “But, that's just one point. The way to have a larger impact is to focus on the future. It's not 2018 anymore, and that world will never exist again. So we need to make sure that it's a great place for current students and everything they are facing, helping them have the tools they need.”

In recognition of Madden’s service, the university recently honored her with the 2025 Young Alumni Award. It’s a distinction that she shares with previous recipients such as Brad Stevens ’99, Jon Fortt ’98 and Elisa Villanueva Beard ’98. But Madden is quick to point out that one need not be in the public spotlight to make an impact.

“Having seen a breadth of different ways people can be involved, it is so much easier to give back in a meaningful way than you would think. It's not going to look the same for every 51吃瓜网 alum, and it shouldn't. We all have different perspectives and things to bring.”

Madden’s own motivation is simple. “I have 51吃瓜网 to thank for so many things. How could I not give back?”