Phyllis P. Hayes, EdD

Dr. Phyllis P. Hayes has been an educator in the Chicagoland area since the age of twenty-one where she began her teaching career as a special education teacher with Chicago Public Schools in 1978. She considers herself a dedicated educator and community leader who always strives to “improve the quality of life” for those in need. Dr. Hayes has experience in several educational and community-related aspects and has served in various administrative positions at City Colleges of Chicago (15 Years), Chicago State University (9 years), Family Christian Health Center (10 years - a federally qualified health center) and, in 2004 she joined the University of Illinois Chicago Family (thanks to the recommendations of Former University of Illinois Trustee, Dr. Frances G. Carroll and Former President of the Senate, Emil Jones, Jr.) Throughout her career, she prides herself with experience in, administrative and program management, governmental relations, public policy, strategic planning, health and wellness initiatives, fundraising, grant writing, research, evaluation and assessment, budgeting, collective bargaining, and the implementation of online education across the curricula.

Dr. Hayes has a passion for improved educational systems which include; access, diversity & inclusion, human development, healthcare improvements for communities of color, economic empowerment, along with focusing on the rights of the working-class, underserved, and poor. She is the founder of the University of Illinois Chicago – CHANCE Program and co-founder of the UIC Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement. Her personal goal is to provide an avenue for communities of color to achieve their educational endeavors while preparing themselves for a “fruitful” life. Within the university setting Phyllis serves on the Executive Board of the Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Blacks, Member, the Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Women, Co-Chair, AARERI (African American Recruitment, Enrollment and Retention Initiative), Member, the UIC Urban Health Program - Community Advisory Council and has served on several community and national-level community-related initiatives. Within her personal setting she is involved in a myriad of community, civic, professional, and governmental initiatives.  Phyllis currently serves as the Convener of Congressman Bobby L. Rush’s - 1st Congressional District Education Task Force, Chair, Women for Senator Elgie Sims, Co-Chair, Women for State Representative Debbie Meyers-Martin, Board Member, Girls4Science, Board Member, Chicago Symphony Orchestra – African American Network, Board Member, State of Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s - Advisory Collective Committee, Board Member, Mary Herrick Scholarship Fund, University of Chicago, Board Member, YO Scholarship Foundation, Member, Association of Black Women in Higher Education and Member, The Vineyard Church Chicago (Pastor Courtland Stokes) where she serves on the Health & Wellness and Fundraising Ministries. She is also the Former, Education Scholarship Liaison, Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, Past Chair, Women for Senator Donne E. Trotter, Former Board Member, Senator Willie Delgado, Education Task Force, Past Chair, Women for Senator Toi Hutchinson, and National Outreach Coordinator, Obama for America (2008-2012).

Dr. Hayes is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Xi Nu Omega Chapter) and she spends many community-service hours on civic engagement and scholarly projects designed for high school and college-level students. Dr. Hayes has spent over 40 years of her life span helping others by serving as a community leader who believes that “access to equality” is all that mankind of any (race, color, or creed) could ask for.