Hays has developed innovative academic programs that create diverse educator pathways, including the Paraprofessional Pathway Project.  In addition, she has led the expansion of student success and retention-progression-completion initiatives, facilitated faculty affairs-related activities, and increased the college’s scholarship capacity through new and reactivated research labs and centers.

Hays joined UNLV in 2015 as a professor and executive associate dean.

Hays earned her doctoral degree in counselor education and supervision, with an emphasis in multicultural research, from Georgia State University. She has published about 125 journal articles and book chapters in her areas of research expertise, which include research methodology and program evaluation, leadership development, domestic violence prevention, assessment and diagnosis, and multicultural and social justice issues in community mental health and counselor preparation.

Hays has authored Assessment in Counseling: Processes and Procedures (7/e, ACA) and co-authored:

• Qualitative Research in Education and Social Sciences (2/e, Cognella)
• Counseling Theory and Practice (3/e, Cognella)
• Mastering the NCE and CPCE (3/e, Pearson)

In addition, she is co-editor of Developing Multicultural Counseling Competency: A Systems Approach (4/e, Pearson) and is associate and content editor of the American Counseling Association Encyclopedia of Counseling (1/e, ACA) and A Counselor's Guide to Career Assessment Instruments (6/e, National Career Development Association).

She has extensive leadership history in the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC) and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), including serving as AARC president and journal editor of Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation, ACES journal editor for Counselor Education and Supervision, and president of an ACES region.

The American Counseling Association has recognized her nationally as an ACA Fellow, as well as presented her awards for her research and advocacy as a counselor educator. She was recognized by ACES with a Legacy Award.