CAROLYN J. HAYS

Carolyn J. Hays, CFRE, is a distinguished cultural executive, fundraiser, and academic leader with more than two decades of experience guiding high-impact arts and healthcare institutions. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Hylton Performing Arts Center at George Mason University, a premier regional cultural anchor operating under a unique tripartite agreement between the university, Prince William County, and the City of Manassas. In this role, she provides visionary leadership for a $10 million annual budget and oversees strategic operations for a state-of-the-art, 102,000-square-foot facility that hosts more than 700 community and professional events each year. She previously served as the Center’s Director of Development and Chief Development Officer, where she engineered double-digit revenue growth and modernized operations using sophisticated, data-driven stewardship metrics.

Throughout her career, Ms. Hays has specialized in navigating complex multi-stakeholder landscapes to build sustainable cultures of philanthropy. As the inaugural Executive Director and Principal Gift Officer for the UVA Community Health Foundation, she launched the strategic fundraising arm for a newly acquired regional health system across Northern and Central Virginia, driving a transformative 300% growth in first-year revenue and designing the solicitation strategy for a landmark lead capital campaign gift. Her executive trajectory also includes serving as Regional Director of Development for CHI St. Luke’s Health Foundation in Texas, where she directed fundraising operations across three distinct community hospitals, generated millions in principal gifts, and launched a highly successful grateful patient physician-referral program. Her early career includes foundational leadership roles with Washington Performing Arts, Friends of the National Zoo, the Washington National Opera, and the Arts & Business Council of Greater Houston.

A passionate educator and champion of the next generation of arts leaders, Ms. Hays holds long-standing academic appointments. She has served as an Adjunct Faculty member for the graduate Arts Leadership program at the University of Houston since 2016 and the Arts Management program at George Mason University since 2024, alongside specialized curriculum development work for the Rocky Mountain College of Arts and Design.

Deeply invested in civic leadership, Ms. Hays serves on the Board of Directors for the Prince William Chamber of Commerce and is an active leader within District 7610 of Rotary International. A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a BoardSource® Certified Governance Trainer, she holds an M.A. in Nonprofit Business Management/Arts Administration from Florida State University and a B.M. in Vocal Performance from the University of Wyoming. She is also a graduate of the Leadership Prince William program.

Education

M.A. in Arts Administration - Florida State University - 2005