Born in Summit, New Jersey to a white family, she became a traditional Cuban drummer and Santería priestess.

"[2] Trained in languages and classical piano at Tufts University, Hagedorn earned an M.A.

She became a White House fellow, and worked on the Afghanistan desk at the State Department.

[2] Starting in 1989, Hagedorn traveled to Cuba to study the batá drum in Matanzas Province.

At Pomona, she taught the batá drum, Tuvan throat singing, and directed a Balinese Gamelan ensemble.