Dalton State Professor selected as Fulbright Scholar to Estonia
Dalton, GA (10/29/2025) — Kimberly Hays, Ph.D., professor of biology at Dalton State College, received a prestigious 2025 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to Estonia. She will spend the spring 2026 semester at the Estonian University of Life Sciences in Tartu, where she will teach ecotoxicology and ethical issues in science and participate in academic exchanges with international colleagues.
"Dr. Hays embodies the academic excellence that defines our faculty," Dalton State President John Fuchko, said. "Her selection for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is a powerful recognition of her dedication to advancing science, enriching education and building meaningful international partnerships."
Fulbright U.S. Scholars teach or conduct research in affiliation with institutions abroad, helping lay the foundation for future partnerships between institutions. Each year, more than 800 scholars participate in the program, contributing to global research networks and advancing international academic exchange.
Hays joined Dalton State in 2012 and is widely respected for her student-first teaching philosophy and her deep commitment to mentoring and professional development. She teaches a wide range of biology courses, including ecotoxicology, and has supervised numerous student research projects. Her excellence in teaching, research and service has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Dalton State College Foundation's Faculty Excellence awards in Teaching in 2015, in Service in 2017 and in Research and Professional Development in 2022. Hays is the only faculty member to receive all three distinctions.
"The Fulbright program is the ultimate international experience for an academic in the U.S. To have the opportunity to represent Dalton State College while learning about Estonian culture and education is a great privilege," Hays said. "So many qualified academics apply for these opportunities, and I am honored to be considered and trusted to represent DSC, the Fulbright program and the United States."
Hays serves as assistant director of Dalton State's Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, where she helps design and lead professional development programming for faculty and staff. She also received the Dean's Award for Excellence in Faculty Advising in 2019 and was inducted into the University System of Georgia's Felton Jenkins Jr. Faculty Hall of Fame in 2021.
"We are incredibly proud of Dr. Hays for being selected as a Fulbright Scholar and representing Dalton State in Estonia," Gina Kertulis-Tartar, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said. "This opportunity is a reflection of Dr. Hays' academic excellence, and her work abroad will enrich her scholarship as well as our campus community."
In addition to her teaching and research roles, Hays also serves as Dalton State's faculty athletic representative in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Her leadership in athletics has earned her the SSAC Charles Morris Administrator of the Year award 2020 and the SSAC Woman of the Year award 2021.
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