Meet the Staff: Beth Hayes '81

If you’ve been a Reunion, a Commencement, or a…well…nearly any kind of special event at Brewster in the last 30 years or so, you’ve seen her. And you’ve likely been greeted by her signature smile, too. Beth Hayes ’81 not only admired Brewster as a child when her older brother attended, she became a Lifer herself, and a few years later, she returned to campus as a staff member. There’s even a Hayes Family Scholarship at Brewster, established by her parents, Ellen and Bradley (who served as a Trustee from 1985 to 2000), so other families can experience what they were so proud of as Brewster parents and grandparents. 

In other words, Beth Hayes has been Brewster blue almost her entire life. 

“Thirty four years!” she said when we met in the one-time Arts Cottage, now the home of the Advancement Team, where Ms. Hayes is the Associate Director of Advancement. She began her career in the Admission and Summer Programs offices, but soon found her niche in the Advancement world, making connections with alumni and stewarding donors with her gracious and sincere warmth. “I strive to personalize connections to the Academy and to build and strengthen relationships within the Brewster family,” she says. “I love sharing Brewster’s goals, successes, and traditions, particularly with our alumni. Each one has a role in this wonderful story.”

Her personal story includes her three sons, Joe ’16, John ’17, and Tommy ’17 (and her niece, Ellen, is Class of 2010). “Having my boys here was an extreme privilege and I'm so grateful for the opportunities that Brewster gave us all. It truly does teach you how to be independent and pull you tightly into a community,” she says.

Ms. Hayes did leave her Bobcat home for a while to earn her BA at Plymouth State University and her MS in Higher Ed Administration at Boston College. But says she clearly remembers the first day she was hired, “I was so excited to be coming back.” She also remembers meeting former Head of School David Smith when she was still a little girl. “We were standing outside the Ac, and I was a little bit in awe, thinking that I might get to go to that school. And here I was, talking to this very important person,” she recalls with a bit of raw emotion, but adding with a laugh, “I had been working at a horse farm and riding, so I told him ‘I’m only coming to school here if you have an equestrian team!’” Brewster didn’t offer an equestrian program at that time, but young Beth still became a Bobcat, and David Smith helped shape her education and career.

Through the years, she’s seen many changes at her alma mater-turned-employer. Dress codes, hair styles, clubs and courses! But three things remain the same: the joy of being on Lake Winnipesaukee, a steadfast commitment to students, and the deep sense of community enjoyed by all who call Brewster home.

Ms. Hayes lives in East Wakefield, where she spends her free time volunteering in town, enjoying her extended family, and playing with her cats, Don Henley and Poe. Travel is another passion, especially her cottage in Maine and points across Europe. Last year, she and her twins took a jaunt up to Montreal together for the first time: “We had a blast!”