Augusta’s chief information officer is leaving the city to teach at Augusta University.
Danielle Hayes, Augusta’s first public information manager, said the opportunity was one she could not refuse.
“I’ve always really wanted to teach at Augusta University,” Hayes said. “I’m a two-time graduate of Augusta University, so when the opportunity came to take a teaching position, as a lecturer of communications, I was like, ‘This is something you just don’t pass.’”
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The Augusta native graduated from A.R. Johnson Health Sciences and Magnet School and completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Augusta University. She’ll complete a Ph.D. from Liberty University next year.
Hayes produced for the local NBC affiliate after graduation and spent several years with the university before joining city government. Former Augusta administrator Odie Donald II, who created the information manager position, brought her aboard in May 2021.
The daughter of pastors, Hayes also specializes in church communications. She said she’s combined her public relations role with one assisting pastors in becoming better communicators and navigating crises.
Hayes said she hopes the lines of communication she helped open with the city continue to expand.
“Having the manager position really kind of helped streamline and aided in our efforts in being more transparent,” she said.
“I have great expectations that the flow of communications will continue to expand, whether it’s through social media, newsletters or media relations. Whatever the capacity is, I can see that growing even more, which will aid in the community being more aware of what’s happening in their government,” she said.
She spearheaded the creation of Augusta Forward TV, which brought city government directly to the people, Hayes said.
