Dr. Thomas J. (Tim) Hynes was selected as Clayton State University’s fourth president in February 2010. At the forefront of Dr. Hynes’s vision was Strategic Plan 2022, adopted by Clayton State in 2016 with a focus on becoming a national model for university-based community engagement and to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and motivations for learning and success. Dr. Hynes was recognized many times for his leadership in student-based learning. He was named seven times by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the Leaders in Atlanta Education. He has been named by Georgia Trend as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2015, 2016 and 2017 by James Magazine. Before arriving at Clayton State, Dr. Hynes served as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Professor of Mass Communication at the University of West Georgia. On two different occasions, he served as Acting President of that institution. Prior to coming to Georgia in 1996, he was on the faculty at the University of Louisville for 18 years. There he served as the founding director of the University Debate Program, and in that role, led the program in the first six years to a National Debate Tournament (NDT) win, and to participate in the Final Four twice. From 1990 to 1996, he served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the largest academic unit at that institution, and among other responsibilities, served as a member of the SACS reaffirmation steering committee and the NCAA accreditation committee. Together with the College of Education, Louisville was a charter member of the Holmes Group reform for the preparation of teachers. In addition to his other duties, Dr. Hynes has served as Chair of the Georgia Humanities Council, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Debate Tournament, Member of the Executive Committee of the National Communication Association, and Director of its Finance Board, and Member of the Executive Committee of the Carroll Tomorrow Initiative. He also served as immediate past chair of the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce and chair of that group’s Government Affairs committee, member of the Fayette County and Metro Atlanta Chambers of Commerce—serving as the co-chair of the Business and Higher Education Committee for that organization—Immediate past Chair of the Atlanta Business Coalition, Chair of the Coordinating Committee of the Clayton County Archway Partnership, and co-chair of Leadership Fayette. Dr. Hynes also served on the Educated Subcommittee of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Economic Competitiveness Strategic Implementation Committee. Among honors held, Dr. Hynes has been named to Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who among Educators and Professionals. He has received the Chairman’s Award from the Clayton County Chamber, the Carl Rhodenizer Community Service Award from the Clayton County Chamber, the Chet Wells Award for Fayette County Chamber Service, the Visionary Award 2016 of South Metro Development Outlook, and the 2017 Good Shepherd Educational Pillar Award. Dr. Hynes also was named by both Emory University and Georgetown University as National Debate Coach of the Year. He received alumni and administrative awards from the University of West Georgia, the University of Louisville, and the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Hynes has an undergraduate degree in Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts, as well as a Ph.D from that institution in Communication Studies. He also holds an MA in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He has edited 10 textbooks and authored more than 40 articles and scholarly papers. Hynes has one adult son, Patrick, who resides in Portland, Oregon. Patrick has finished in the top 100 of both the Boston and the New York City Marathons, as well as the top 70 in the Peachtree Road Race on two occasions. Dr. Hynes has completed 26 marathons and 20 Peachtree Road Races—none in the top 100.