Kelly Hays

Food Education Faculty

Kelly Hays came to Thaden with over a decade of teaching experience, most recently from her home town of Van Buren, Arkansas, where she taught food and nutrition classes. In 2019 she was named the National Restaurant Association Arkansas Educator of the Year. Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in cross-cultural communications from Southwestern University. She has studied culinary education at the Culinary Institute of America and Brightwater.