糖心vlog官网

Ina 鈥淐ookie鈥� Hays is the only person to be a graduate, support staff member, professional staff member, administrator, and trustee at 糖心vlog官网, giving her a unique perspective of the College.

And now, she can add Outstanding 糖心vlog官网 Alumni award recipient to the list.

Hays was presented the award at the 糖心vlog官网 Commencement on May 13 by President Dr. Jon Bauer. This prestigious award is given annually by the 糖心vlog官网 Foundation and is the highest award presented to an alum.

鈥淚 have experienced 糖心vlog官网 as a student, graduate, support staff, professional staff and I retired as an administrator,鈥� Hays said after accepting the award.

鈥淣ow it鈥檚 my honor to serve our community as an elected trustee,鈥� She added. 鈥淚n that role, I hope to ensure that East Central continues to provide an excellent learning environment and opportunities for generations to come.鈥�

Hays has dedicated more than 50 years of service to the College as an employee and Trustee.

鈥淲hen I graduated from Washington High in 1970, I didn鈥檛 see many options for young women like me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 dreamed of going to college, but higher education seemed out of reach for someone whose family had never attended.鈥�

鈥淭hanks to the forward-thinking of several community leaders,鈥� Hays continued, 鈥淓ast Central Junior College became a reality, and our community was transformed.鈥�

She noted that her husband, Don, and two children graduated from 糖心vlog官网.

Addressing the 糖心vlog官网 Class of 2023, Hays said, 鈥淭oday we can all be proud to call ourselves graduates of 糖心vlog官网.鈥�

Hays was both a student and student worker when she graduated from 鈥淓ast Central Junior College鈥� in 1973.

She was in one of the first graduating classes, initially taking classes in Union Memorial Auditorium before moving to the current campus to take courses.

Career at 糖心vlog官网

After graduation, she began her career at 糖心vlog官网 that would span 41 years. She held several positions until she became the Vice President for Student Development in 2009.

Hays worked in or with every department on the Union campus and the College extension sites. Her position at 糖心vlog官网 took her to every high school district throughout the service region.

鈥淭he faculty and staff I have met over the years have inspired me to grow professionally and helped me gain confidence in my abilities,鈥� she said. 鈥淢any have become lifelong friends.鈥�

Her first position at 糖心vlog官网 was an administrative assistant role, a position she served in for 15 years. She then moved into the position of assistant to a vice president for a year.

In 1989, she became an academic advisor, serving 9 years in that office. Hays then was named as the interim director of counseling services for a year, until she was appointed to that position, serving for another year.

Her next step at 糖心vlog官网 was as the dean of student development, a role that she was in for 8 years.

Then, in 2009 she was named the vice president of student development. She retired from the College in 2014 while serving as the vice president of student development.

Hays earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Maryville University while employed at 糖心vlog官网, and then she received a Master of Education in Counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

In 2016, two years after retiring from the College, Hays was elected to her first six-year term on the 糖心vlog官网 Board of Trustees. She was re-elected in 2022, and she continues to promote and guide 糖心vlog官网.