Betsy Hays takes pride in the education of her students, counting her proudest accomplishments as producing successful graduates and seeing them go out into the world to “crush it.”

Hays is the chair of the Department of Media, Communications and Journalism, as well as a professor of public relations. This year marks her 20th year teaching at Fresno State.

Hays received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Fresno State before entering her public relations career. She was one of the lucky people who knew what she wanted to do in life right away, and she turned her love for public relations into a lifelong journey.

“I always loved to write, and I loved advocacy,” Hays said, “so when I was introduced to public relations, I was able to utilize what I loved to do.”

Following her public relations career, she found her place as an educator and set out to teach those who wanted to pursue the profession.

Throughout two decades of teaching, Hays said the process of education has remained focused on engagement and meeting the students’ needs. The main change Hays said she has faced in education is the impact of technology and the uses of social media in the public relations field.

Her goal as a professor includes preparing students for their careers while educating them on ethical practices. She teaches multiple courses in the MCJ department, including the “PR Cases and Campaigns” course filled with all graduating seniors, many of her students have known her for years.

Hays is also using her experience to help the department, which is undergoing change —revising its curriculum for new classes, implementing new projects and ideas and embracing new faculty and staff to the department.

Hays is married and has two daughters in college. She is passionate about her family, cooking, dogs and productivity. She is inspired by Benjamin Franklin, her students who have overcome so much to receive an education and smart people.

“Smart people bring me joy,” Hays said, “and working at a University I’m blessed because they’re everywhere.”