Richard Haynes

Presidential Award of Excellence, 2018

Admissions

Associate Director for Diversity

As a professional artist, Richard Haynes knows how to reveal the beauty of everyday objects. To low-income and under represented high school students, he is a different kind of visionary: the man who can open doors to life-changing opportunities and turn their dreams of attending college into reality.

Richard joined UNH’s admissions team as associate director for diversity recruiting in 2005. His service is fueled by his deep belief that all students, regardless of background, race, socio-economic status, ethnicity, religion, gender or gender identity, should have access to higher education. For the last 13 years, he has developed strong relationships between UNH Admissions and counselors and students at high schools across northern New England. And often, he works one-on-one with students to present their most compelling admissions case.

On campus, Richard is a guiding light to students and colleagues alike. He has served for many years as a member of the President’s Commission on the Status of People of Color’s recruitment and retention committee. And he is active in multiple organizations that support students of color, including the Black Student Union and the Latino/Latina group Mosaico. Every year, he presents Discover UNH, a series of programs on campus that make it possible for students of color and low-income, first-generation white students to envision themselves in college.

Richard is an inspiring speaker who freely shares his own story of hardship growing up in South Carolina’s low country, and later in Harlem. And in 2013, he was honored to be the keynote speaker for the city of Manchester’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.  He also speaks regularly at New England regional TRIO events, which support access to higher education for low-income and first-generation students.

And then there is Richard’s artwork. A talented painter, he has not only added beauty to local venues with his stunning and colorful murals, he has made them community efforts. Pieces that now grace our campus and locations around the Seacoast were completed with assistance from local adolescents and young adults.