College of Charleston Faces to Know: Hayden Clement

Name: Hayden P. Clement

Hometown: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Education/Background: I earned my bachelor of arts in English literature with a medieval studies minor from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and a master of arts in teaching secondary education English from The Citadel Military College. While at Winthrop, I studied abroad in a semester and summer abroad programs and returned to work two years as a peer advisor in our study abroad office.

Job title: Academic Advisor and Training Coordinator in the Academic Advising and Planning Center

How long have you worked at the College? I joined the team on January 6, 2020, so it’s been over four years.

What are your job responsibilities? I am assigned a caseload of 250–300 students a semester and require all first-year students from that caseload to meet with me in their first two semesters. Transfer and readmitted students have to meet with me in just their first semester. This number has gone down nicely since we added six new advisors since July. On top of the advising work, I was partly responsible for coordinating the training of our new advisors since fall 2021 and was officially made the training coordinator in fall 2022. This entails making sure new hires are formally trained in CofC policies and procedures and shadow our veteran advisors in the various appointment types we host.

What do you like most about your job? I find great reward in knowing that what I do has an impact on students. Our conversations don’t only cover academics and what classes they should take, but they involve any discussion on resources or strategies that can lead to their success, as defined by them. We talk about all areas of collegiate life, since everything affects anything in this micro-universe we create on a college campus. Our discussions lead to helping the students determine what they are really pursuing here and their motivations for being here. We talk about how to get involved and build community and lifelong relationships, pursuing career development opportunities, personal growth opportunities and any resources that would assist them in whatever challenges they might be facing academically or personally.

What question do you get asked most in your job and what’s your typical answer? “Will I be able to graduate on time?” and the answer is usually, “Yes,” but of course that always depends on the student’s performance and if they decide to actually follow the plans I suggest.

What’s your favorite location on campus and why? There’s a small courtyard between the Lightsey Center and McAlister Hall where I eat when the weather is nice. It’s not the prettiest spot on campus, but it’s my most visited. It’s gotten nicer now that we’ve replaced the old chairs and tables, though. But the Stern Center Garden is also a lovely spot.

What are your hobbies? I’m a big cinephile and can tell you my favorite movie in most every genre, but I’m not so great at seeing new releases unless it’s a good action flick that should be seen on the big screen. In my spare time, I read fiction, do jigsaw puzzles, mentor high schoolers, pet my rabbit and try to go swing dancing when the opportunity arises.

What personal and/or professional accomplishment are you most proud of? If I ever actually finish the book I’ve been writing on since I was 14, I’d say that. But, as of now, it’s that I can mentor high schoolers personally and college students professionally. If I can have as positive and significant an impact on them that my college advisor had on me, I’ll be a happy camper. Recently, I was accepted to present at a regional conference of collegiate advisors on our advisor training program.

Name a creative work (book, movie, performance, etc.) you enjoyed recently and why? My coworker Aaron Hancock recently debuted in his first stage play, On Clover Road, and did a great job. But I have to say here that my favorite novel is Watership Down.

What was your favorite TV show growing up? I’ll say the animated Jackie Chan Adventures series. That aired when I was 8, but thanks to Netflix I got a taste of nostalgia rewatching them in college.

What’s next on your bucket list? Two guys I became fast friends with while traveling last fall in Italy invited me to visit them in South Africa. If I take them up on the invite, I intend to go on safari while there.

What is something your campus colleagues would be surprised to know about you? My office colleagues are aware of this already, but I love to draw just above the regular doodle. Most of them have two or three of my drawings on their walls. I do take requests.

What was your first job? I worked for my father’s residential swimming pool maintenance company between the ages 15 and 25. It was seasonal during school years, but after college it was pretty much full time while pursuing my master’s. I stopped working for him when I went to teach in South Korea.

What’s your favorite Lowcountry restaurant? Page’s Okra Grill in Mount Pleasant.

Describe your perfect day: A slow morning with an early breakfast sitting on my porch with my rabbit, followed by a workout and then meeting a friend for lunch and going for a walk somewhere. In the afternoon I might play cornhole or pickleball and then eat dinner with my folks, who also live in Mount Pleasant. A good day usually ends playing video games with my two neighbors.

To nominate a faculty or staff member to be featured in the “CofC Faces to Know” series, please send the person’s name and email address to facstaffnews@cofc.edu. Please include “CofC Faces to Know” in the email subject line.