Page 23 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2024 - Online Magazine

LOCAL LEGENDS
Learn from those, as well as from
your subject matter.” Bess knew that
would involve leaving her beloved
home state of Louisiana!
Boldly, she entered Florida State
University with a part-time
assistantship in the field of Clothing
and Textiles within the School of
Human Sciences. Her goal was to
finish her first graduate degree free
of debt. She also took extra courses
in human development, family
studies, and child development.
With that degree in hand, she
interviewed with Northwestern
State University back in Louisiana
and was hired to teach five sections
of Introduction to Education. (She
was challenged to teach classes
which had not received high
student ratings in the past. In
addition, she was to develop a
professional organization for
education students.) She utilized
Charles Schultz’s Peanuts cartoons
and interwove them creatively into
the content. Class and instructor
ratings improved dramatically! In
addition, she provided refreshments
and guest speakers to entice student
attendance at meetings of the
new organization. Her optimism,
perseverance, creativity, and human
relations skills resulted in success for
students, for the instructor, and for
the university.
Bess Haley next received an
invitation to become director of
the Child Development Research
Center back at Louisiana Tech. She
returned to Ruston, where her skills
in leadership and management,
as well as her knowledge in child
development, were put into practice.
Bess worked on doctoral studies at
Florida State University during the
summers and returned to Ruston
to teach at Louisiana Tech during
the long terms. At that time, she
was asked to be Associate Dean.
In addition to teaching, she wrote
grants for the Department of Health her family. After considering the
and Human Services, to improve the possibilities for Bess, her parents and
training of childcare workers and brothers gave their blessing. One
teachers. Again, she was challenged brother asserted, “Go for it, Bess.
to capture the focus of learners who Go see what it’s like.” Her family
had little formal education–so she continued to provide that bedrock of
used poster boards to teach content support and encouragement.
in ways that increased the interest
and motivation of her students. In 1981, Dr. Haley became the Dean
of the College of Home Economics
A new experience surfaced for Bess Studies (COHS) at Texas Tech
Haley when she was invited to work University and served in that role
at the state level, setting standards until 2000.
for childcare workers. To do so, it
was necessary to work closely with While COHS Dean, Dr. Haley
the state Colleges of Education in a worked to increase enrollment,
spirit of collaboration (but firmness) expand degree offerings, and
based on what she believed was secure approval for innovative
best for children. In the meantime, programs, including Hospitality
Haley was named interim dean Administration, Personal Financial
and then dean--at the tender age Planning, Addiction Sciences, and
of 30. In that role, she established Interior Design.
relationships with other deans and
utilized the advice she gained from Haley also served as Interim
these experienced colleagues. For University President for TTU during
example, the dean at Virginia Tech 1988-89; and in 2001, Chancellor
once encouraged Bess, “You’ve John T. Montford asked her to
got to move on. You’ve got to go become Deputy Chancellor for
to a bigger place,” to continue her Operations within the TTU System.
growth and influence. She later served as Special Assistant
to Chancellor Robert Duncan--and
Weighing her love for the Louisiana then as Special Assistant to President
area (near family), she considered Lawrence Schovanec.
the advice of the colleague carefully. In addition to serving on many
When a letter arrived announcing state and national boards and
the search for a new dean at Texas organizations, Dr. Haley contributes
Tech University (TTU), Bess took to her local community. She
the letter to a Christmas dinner with has served in leadership roles
Dr. Haley as the chair for the Board of
Directors for the Carillon Senior LifeCare
Photo taken about age 4. Community.
Lubbock Senior Link 23