December 5, 2024, Challenger Learning Center of Northeast Alabama is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Farrah Hayes as its Executive Director, effective January 1, 2025. Dr. Hayes brings 20 years combined experience in the K12 classroom and higher education. She will play a key role in furthering Challenger’s mission to provide experiential STEM education programs to Northeast Alabama.
In this role, Dr. Hayes will oversee all aspects of the Challenger Learning Center’s planning, operations, and management. Additionally, she will work closely with the Advisory Council to continue their mission to secure funding for the project and educate the public about the Center’s mission and programs. Dr. Hayes will collaborate with educational and community partners as the Center develops immersive learning experiences that are innovative, inclusive, and aligned with current STEM trends and Alabama’s educational standards.
Before joining Challenger Learning Center, Dr. Hayes served as the Dean of Academic Programs and Services at Gadsden State Community College. She has implemented key initiatives that have enhanced academic programs, improved student services, and shaped the College’s strategic direction. Dr. Hayes has been employed at Gadsden State since 2015, when she accepted a position as an English instructor. She later accepted the director position of Cardinal Tutoring Centers and was promoted to Division Chair of Languages and Humanities in 2019. Before transitioning to higher education, Dr. Hayes taught English and Spanish for Etowah County and Piedmont City Schools.
Hayes earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish and a Master of Science in Education of English Language Arts from Jacksonville State University. In 2010, she earned an educational specialist designation from JSU. In 2021, she completed her doctoral degree in Developmental Education Administration from Sam Houston State University. She is a graduate of Leadership Etowah and the Gadsden State Faculty Development Institute. She earned a fellowship from the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous at Columbia University.
Hayes is the recipient of several honors, including a Chancellor’s Award for Academic and Technical Faculty; New Development Educator of the Year from the Alabama Association for Developmental Education; Outstanding Academic Faculty from the Gadsden State Alumni Association, and Piedmont High School Teacher of the Year. She is an active member of the Gadsden Rotary Club. She is married to Justin D. Hayes, an attorney in private practice. They reside in Gadsden, Alabama.
The future Challenger Learning Center will join a network of more than 30 Challenger Learning Centers across 24 states, reaching more than 6 million students worldwide. Challenger Learning Centers offer a variety of hands-on STEM programs, with the core being its simulated space-themed missions in the fully immersive learning environment. The future Challenger Learning Center will serve students in Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, DeKalb, Etowah, Marshall, Randolph, St. Clair, Talladega, and Jefferson counties and surrounding areas.
