Dr. Bobby Hayes has taught at HPU for 25 years. He began his teaching career in the university’s Evening Degree Program for working adults and later transitioned into the School of Communication. He started at then-High Point College in 1987 as Director of Media Relations before going back to school to obtain a Ph.D.
What is your title and what do you do in this role?
I am the Chair of the Department of Journalism and Sports Media. I am responsible for administering the two majors as well as teaching in both programs. I utilize my professional background as a sports reporter and columnist to teach students the skills they will need to thrive in the mass media industry, as well as develop the type of curriculum that will meet the demands of the ever-changing media landscape.
How do you help students develop life skills that they will use to achieve lives of success and significance after they graduate from HPU?
I’m honest with them out of love. It’s not an easy business, with lots of people to compete against who have the same goals. I show them what they need to work on, give them opportunities to practice and improve their craft and, when they are ready, I attempt to connect them with individuals in the industry who can give them the chance to prove themselves as contributors.
What is a way that you provide students with experiential learning opportunities?
Journalism and sports media is about jumping in and getting your hands dirty. Students cover events and games, and they tell stories. It’s all real. Winners and losers. Exhilaration and heartbreak. Truthfully, this industry is all experiential. You do it. Then you learn from it and do it again. And again. Before long, if you hang in there and pay attention, you get better. Our students produce stories for a weekly news broadcast and an accompanying website, reporting on real people for real audiences. Most land internships with professional news organizations. Then, one day before they know it, they are writing an email to tell me about their first story on air in their new job — it’s magic.
What are you looking forward to most for this academic year?
Continuing to expand our student-run newscast that we launched last year and forging even more new relationships with television stations across the country who want to hire our students. It is an exciting time to be in the journalism industry as stations look to infuse their operations with young talent.
What’s one thing you want students and parents to know about HPU?
High Point University will give its students every opportunity to thrive in a highly competitive field. We have the tools and personnel to help make their dreams come true. But they have to want it. And they must make the sacrifices it takes to make it happen.
What’s one way you generate creativity or productivity?
I show our students models of greatness to generate creativity and productivity in students. As the great Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi once said, “We relentlessly pursue perfection, knowing we will never quite catch it. But in the process, we will catch excellence.” I also coach them in one-on-one conferences during the semester and hold them accountable to keep improving.
What is your favorite quote?
“To be successful, you have to learn to do things you don’t like. You find ways to like the process and make the most of that time.” – Mike Krzyzewski
What is your favorite place on campus?
My favorite place on campus is the new Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena. It is full of energy and promise.
What do you love most about working at HPU?
I love pouring into the lives of great students and human beings and helping them in some small way to achieve their dreams.