Coe College announces interim president
Vice President for Advancement and Professor of Business Administration and Economics David Hayes will serve as interim president of Coe College. On January 1, 2021, Hayes will begin serving in this role, and current president Dave McInally will become chancellor to ensure continuity prior to McInally’s retirement in June.
“We are very fortunate to have someone with David Hayes’ deep Coe roots, strong community connections and considerable experience as a faculty member and senior administrator to serve Coe during this time of change,” said Board of Trustees Chair Ken Golder ’82.
Hayes graduated magna cum laude from Coe College in 1993. He earned a Juris Doctor with high distinction and master's degree in international and comparative law from the University of Iowa College of Law. He began his professional career as an attorney with the Shuttleworth & Ingersoll law firm, working there from 1996-2001. He returned to Coe in 2001 as director of gift planning and an adjunct professor before joining the faculty full time. While working as a full-time professor, he also served as legal advisor to the president. Prior to transitioning to the role of vice president in 2014, he directed Coe’s pre-law and environmental studies programs, led courses at Coe’s Wilderness Field Station, was twice named the recipient of the Charles J. Lynch Outstanding Teacher Award and held the Louis J. & Ella Pochobradsky chair.
As vice president for advancement, Hayes led the fundraising efforts for a number of important campaigns including development of the Learning Commons to repurpose the library to facilitate student success, an athletic growth initiative and several campus beautification projects. Under Hayes’ leadership, Coe’s average annual fundraising has increased by nearly 40% over the last five years. In addition, he directed the Make Your Move Campaign, securing nearly $15 million of external support to enable a renovation and expansion of the college’s humanities building, Hickok Hall, and athletic and recreational facilities. He has been an important campus partner for a number of sustainability initiatives including a solar installation, green roof and award-winning water management program.
Due in part to Hayes’ leadership in the development of the C3: Creativity, Careers, Community center, engagement between Coe and the Cedar Rapids community is at an all-time high. As a result of this innovative approach to external stakeholder engagement, Coe has been recognized nationally as one of The Princeton Review’s Top 25 Best Schools for Internships in the nation three years in a row.
“I am honored to continue serving my alma mater alongside my faculty and staff peers. Together with Dave McInally, I am eager to build on the momentum Coe has experienced during his tenure,” Hayes said.
A national search process for Coe’s next president will resume as soon as it is safe for candidates to travel to campus.