Hayden Named Assistant AD for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
LEXINGTON, Kentucky – Tiffany Hayden has been named Assistant Athletics Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, announced Friday by Mitch Barnhart, University of Kentucky Director of Athletics.
“Tiffany has a history of guiding student-athletes to success and capably handling administrative assignments,” Barnhart said. “Her background and dedication to the well-being of our student-athletes make her a natural choice to help lead our diversity and inclusion initiative and a sport administrator.”
An 11-year counselor in UK Athletics’ Center for Academic and Tutorial Services, Hayden will be adding new duties. She will be the primary sport administrator for women’s basketball and co-chair of UK Athletics’ Diversity Advocacy Committee.
“I want to thank Mr. Barnhart for providing me with the opportunity to lead and grow in this capacity,” Hayden said. “I am excited to continue to advocate for all student-athletes and their development as we champion the issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. I will lead with passion and authenticity, connecting our students to the community at large to enrich their educational experience. I look forward to working as a team member within the athletic department as we work to grow not only this division but also the athletic department.”
Hayden has been a member of the CATS staff since 2009, working at various times with the women’s basketball, women’s tennis and rifle teams. She was the counselor for nine years with women’s basketball, which received the NCAA Academic Progress Rate Award for placing in the top 10 percent of the nation’s Division I women’s basketball programs in 2019 and 2020. During her time with women’s basketball, the team had a 100 percent graduation rate for players who completed their eligibility. The team has carried a team grade-point average of 3.0 or better for 14 straight semesters.
With Hayden’s added responsibilities, she will relinquish the counselor role for women’s basketball but will continue with the rifle team.
As a counselor, Hayden serves as the liaison between student-athletes, coaches and on-campus faculty and staff. She works closely with student-athletes to ensure they have all of the tools needed to be successful upon graduation from UK. Her other responsibilities included assisting with the CATS recruiting efforts. She is an active member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics. She created the Human Athlete Mentoring Project in the Spring 2020 semester.
Before joining the CATS staff, Hayden served as an academic advisor at Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington from 2004-09, where she advised beginning freshmen, transfer students, readmitted students and continuing students.
Hayden graduated from UK in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in health science. She earned her master’s in business administration from Sullivan University in 2003. She also received a master’s in higher education from the University of Louisville in 2009.
