Alumni Board Bios - Lawana J. Haynes
Major: Psychology
Graduation year: 2010
Where are you from? Houston, TX via Wake Forest, North Carolina
Where do you work? Enrollment Management, Financial Aid
Clubs/Organizations you were a part of at GGC: PSYC Club as Program Chair; worked with the Summer Technology Camp for middle and high school students
How has GGC helped prepare you for where you are today?
GGC has prepared me to explore new possibilities as I was a non-traditional student who made a career change. The college made the transition a very smooth process. I gained skills from my professors through student conferences. They were encouraging in helping me to develop graduate school options and they nurtured the necessary skills considered desirable to gain acceptance into graduate school and find employment. Because of the hands-on approach that GGC’s professors take, I credit them and the school in assisting me in graduating - creating many opportunities for me.
Favorite memory about GGC:
My most memorable event at GGC was being given the opportunity to attend a student research conference at Virginia Commonwealth University. Two other classmates accompanied me to this event in Richmond, Virginia, where we presented our research projects. We were encouraged and accompanied by Dr. Holly Haynes of the psychology department. At the conference, I met students from other colleges and universities, received helpful critiques on my work from visiting professors in psychology, got to know my classmates better and began seriously considering graduate school as a viable option. The trip sparked an interest, which led to more opportunities to develop skills and be successful at Georgia Gwinnett College and beyond. It was an excellent opportunity.
Community involvement:
I volunteered in various areas - the common thread involved helping those that need extra assistance. I volunteered in the development department for Hudgens Center for the Arts to help incorporate the arts into the Gwinnett County Public School’s curriculum. I was a mentor and Sunday school teacher at Friendship Baptist Church and worked as a mentor for middle-school students. Currently, I am a volunteer at my children’s schools and a volunteer at GGC for many initiatives on campus, such as the Alumni Board, Staff Council, student initiatives and graduation ceremonies.
Advice for new students:
I advise students to become involved at GGC. There are many opportunities for students to get involved, such as student-lead organizations, volunteering for research with professors - which may lead to publication - and networking with classmates - which helps in appreciating diverse perspectives. I also advise students to follow their passion and lastly, I advise students to be flexible enough to embrace change and courageous enough to create that change.
What’s next?
I began working at GGC shortly after graduating from the college and intend to transition my skills into an administration role. I have also started a graduate program and, finally, I intend to continue volunteering in my community and at GGC with the goal of assisting others.