Dr. Hays brings over eighteen years experience as a professor in higher education and more than fifteen years experience in leadership, management, healthcare administration, and business communications to his role as faculty member at CIU.

He holds the designation of Certified Medical Practice Executive from the American College of Medical Practice Executives, and he is also a Certified Facilitator for Lead Like Jesus and a Faculty Evaluator for the American Council on Education where he regularly consults with the U.S. Military.

In his spare time, Dr. Hays enjoys reading Southern literature and is a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan. He and his wife, Karin, enjoy spending their free time together in the North Carolina mountains and at the South Carolina coast with their two grown sons, Nathan (and daughter-in-law, Kelsey, and grandchildren, Molly-Hope and James), and Samuel, and their miniature schnauzer, Gracie.