Page 31 - Laker Connection Spring 2015

Staff Profile
“TOME, CLAyTON STATE MEANS
COLLEAGUES wHO HAvE BECOME FRIENDS... AND HONORING My PARENTS AND GRAND- PARENTS FOR THE vALUE OF EDUCATION THEy HAvE INSTILLED IN ME.
DR. ANGELyN HAyES
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. Angelyn Hayes is retiring from her 27 years at Clayton State University after starting as an in- structor and building her way up to Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs. Through her guid- ance for students and departments alike, Hayes has gained a greater perspective on what it means to help students become successful at Clayton State.
Hayes, an Atlanta native, began her Clayton State experience by first helping individual students in her classes discover opportunities on campus and from this Hayes ultimately discovered her own career. While her underlying priority has always been to serve students, she enjoys viewing the big- ger picture of Clayton State by supervising or as- sisting the various departments that comprise the Division of Student Affairs..
During her previous years in the Office of Career Services, Hayes worked with students in experien- tial learning through workshops and individual meetings on internship and career goals. Hayes’ first step is to identity the students’ passion, and from there, “We have to have focus on what mat- ters and give action to that focus.”
“Success is individualized,” Hayes adds, com- menting that her main personal value is inclusive- ness and how Clayton State shares this vision of giving every diverse student a voice no matter the age, gender, race, nationality, etc.
“To me, Clayton State means colleagues who have become friends, a huge chapter in my life, oppor- tunity, and honoring my parents and grandparents for the value of education they have instilled in me,” Hayes says.
Although holding an administrative title, Hayes defines herself as an educator. Her greatest satis-
faction is to see students gain an understanding or insight that indicates learning has occurred.
Hayes not only helps to hone students’ educational and career focuses, but also is always certain to teach students how to perform a professional handshake. “Firm, connected, one up, one down,” Hayes says, noting how she is avid to give even the smallest details to add to students’ opportuni- ties for success.
Hayes’ most meaningful moment at Clayton State is to have the honor of leading students into gradu- ation, a task she has performed many times over the years.
“They are taking a step to a new chapter of their dreams,” she says.
Hayes will be leading graduating students one last time this May before she retires to play with her grandchildren, take care of her mother, volunteer in her new hometown of Clayton, GA, and write.
BY SIERA BLASCO
SPRING 2015 29
“