West Plains, MO, October 15, 2024 – The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) announced today that LeeAnn Weaver Hayes has been named the 2024 Youth Workforce Professional of the Year.
Hayes, the Workforce Development Coordinator for the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), will be recognized at the 25th Annual NAWDP Youth Symposium on November 18, in Phoenix, AZ.
With nearly two decades of experience in healthcare and education, Hayes’ commitment to serving underserved communities led her to work as a Community Care Manager for a grant through the University of South Carolina (USC) School of Medicine and CareSouth Carolina. In this role, she focused on gathering data and addressing high stroke and heart disease rates in South Carolina’s rural areas.
Before joining the MUSC Health, LeeAnn spent 14 years as a Healthcare Educator at her local Community College. During this time, she worked with hundreds of diverse students, many of whom lived in challenging circumstances and sought opportunities for self-improvement. Through this work, she recognized the need to create pathways early for youth, close educational gaps, and establish clear career opportunities. Her passion for empowering others and her dedication to workforce development were born out of these experiences, driving her commitment to helping individuals succeed, regardless of their situation.
“The Youth Workforce Professional of the Year award recognizes an individual for their perseverance to provide innovative opportunities for youth in their community,” said Melissa Robbins, NAWDP’s Chief Executive Officer. “LeeAnn’s dedication to opening doors for young people to receive an education and provide them with career opportunities is truly inspiring.”
Upon joining the MUSC Health team, Hayes was entrusted with the responsibility to build on her past knowledge to create sustainable career pathways in her community. Leadership at MUSC Health supported her vision, allowing her to establish programs that create opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds to enter healthcare professions. Her innovative work has played a crucial role in bridging the gap between education and employment for underserved populations.
For the past two years, she has continued to lead these efforts, ensuring that the programs she develops provide skills and training as well as offer long-term career growth. Her dedication to uplifting her community and fostering diversity within the healthcare workforce reflects her deep commitment to social impact and inclusion.
“I am deeply honored to receive the NAWDP Youth Professional of the Year Award. This recognition represents the love and dedication I have for those I serve and my lifelong passion for supporting others in ways that my brother and I would have benefited from when we were younger. I couldn’t have accomplished any of this without the unwavering support of my family and my circle. It is a privilege to give back, create opportunities, and inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals,” said Hayes.
