Hayes Hart-Thompson Awarded Student Employee of the Year

Hayes Hart-Thompson is a master’s student studying Geography. Dr. Jessica Finlay (Assistant Professor in Geography) nominated Hayes for their roles as a teaching and research assistant. Across both positions, Hayes consistently exceeds expectations, through exceptional initiative, intellectual leadership and a deep commitment to equity, inclusion and collective success.

In the classroom, Hayes builds an inclusive environment where students feel seen, heard and intellectually challenged, especially in a course centered on power, privilege and urban inequality. During stressful or uncertain moments, Hayes proactively checked in with students and adjusted instructional approaches to keep the class grounded in trust and mutual respect. Hayes also made a lasting instructional contribution by designing and leading a three-week interactive capstone project that asked students to apply course concepts to a realistic urban planning scenario, setting a new standard for experiential, justice-oriented learning in the department.

Hayes strengthens departmental research by contributing novel ideas that improve project design, collaborative workflows and advance equity-centered research practices. As a leader, Hayes supports and mentors other students and elevates their peers through encouragement, constructive guidance, and deep collaboration.