Gene Hatfield served as a History professor for over 32 years at Clayton State University. He retired from the institution on June 30th, 2008. At Clayton State, Hatfield was the chairman of the Social Sciences Department, Director of the American Democracy Programm, and the founding director of the university's Honors Program. He was also an active member of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), an original member of the Georgia Civil War Commission, and chairman of the Friends of the Georgia Archives.

Gene Hatfield political interest allowed him to serve as past chairman of the Clayton County Democratic Party, chairman of the Sixth District Congressional Committeem and a member of the State Executive Committee. In his political career he was elected as a delegate to two Democratic National Conventions during 1984 in San Francisco and 1988 in Atlanta.

Hatfield entered graduate school at the University of North Carolina following his Army service in Vietnam. He said of his military service and decision to study history: "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. It was an exciting time to be in graduate school and study history against the backdrop of events like the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement."