Dr. Richard L. Hayes has been appointed dean of the College of Education at the University of South Alabama.

Hayes joins USA from the College of Education at the University of Georgia, where he’s currently serving as professor of counseling and human development services. He previously held faculty positions at Colgate University and Bradley University.

Hayes was selected to lead the College following a nationwide search, according to Dr. Patsy Covey, senior vice president for academic affairs at USA. He will begin working at USA on June 1.

“We’re proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Hayes, who is known nationally and internationally for his outstanding work in the field of education,” she said. “He brings a very distinguished record of teaching, research and administration to the University.”

“The USA College of Education has an outstanding reputation for preparing excellent teachers and supporting schools through research and outreach,” Covey said. “Dr. Hayes has expressed a strong commitment to build in both of these areas.”

Hayes, a former public school teacher and counselor, received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Harvard University and his master’s degree in counselor education and doctorate in counseling psychology from Boston University.

“I’m looking forward to this exciting challenge and opportunity as I join the South Alabama family,” Hayes said. “I have a real commitment to enhancing the work that’s underway at USA.”

Some of the goals Hayes plans to implement for the USA College of Education include further enhancing the quality of teacher education and seeking additional partnerships with the Mobile and Baldwin county school systems.

“I would also like to form partnerships with other colleges and departments at the University of South Alabama,” Hayes said. “Another goal I have is to focus on recognizing the success and contributions made by the USA College of Education to the local community and region.”

Hayes’ work at UGA includes developing and adopting multicultural standards for instruction and evaluation. He also diversified the faculty and student body through an active recruitment program, which included mentoring.

He has been a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar in Japan, a visiting professor at the University of Tokyo and the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland, and is an international faculty member of the European Institute of Psychotherapy.

A Boston, Mass., native, Hayes has been a member of the UGA faculty for more than 16 years. His department was recognized by U.S. News and World Report as the fourth-ranked graduate program of its type in the nation.

Among the numerous awards that Hayes has received are the Presidential Award, Professional Service Award, Foreign Research Fellow and Kuhmerker Award for distinguished contributions to research, teaching and service to the association and the field of moral education. He’s a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Pi Lambda Theta.

Hayes has authored more than 90 publications in four languages, including book chapters, journal articles, monographs and book reviews. He has served as a professional consultant to numerous public schools in the United States and abroad. Hayes has received many research grants.

He is past president of the Association for Moral Education and the Association for Specialists in Group Work. He is a Fellow in both the Association for Specialists in Group Work and the American Psychological Association.

Hayes is married to Dr. Bree Hayes, president of the Hayes Group. She is a management consultant to Fortune 500 companies and their CEOs. They have four children.

USA’s College of Education currently enrolls more than 2,500 students in its five academic departments and has 14,122 alumni.

For more information contact Joy Washington, 460-6638.jwashing@usouthal.edu