A Central High School graduate from Warfield, Virginia, Dwan Hailey earned an Associate of Applied Science in Human Services from Southside Virginia Community College.

After earning her associate's degree from SVCC, Dwan transferred to Mary Baldwin College and completed a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. She was then hired by Union County Department of Social Services in the Charlotte, North Carolina area to work in the Foster Care Placement Division.  She has since moved back to Virginia and accepted a position with Goodwill Industries of South Central Virginia, Inc. as a Career Center Coordinator.

She reflects on her time at SVCC with thoughts of faculty and staff who helped guide her: Shanley Dorin, an English instructor who "makes it happen"; John Hays' and Myrna Thompson's words of encouragement; and John Hicks' corrective criticism.

 

Dwan is continuing her education by pursuing a graduate degree from Mary Baldwin and hopes to open a non-profit organization that focuses on recidivism of criminal offenders.  Recalling influences in that direction she notes an interview with SVCC's then president, Dr. John Cavan, which focused on the College's Campus Within Walls program.