40 Year Profile: Janice Hayden

When Janice Hayden began her career at Sacramento State, she didn’t think it would stretch to 40 years, but then again, she’s not surprised that it has. “I always liked it here,” says the former alumni events manager, who retired last summer.

Hayden came full circle at the University. She was originally hired to work with the Alumni Association, but it was dissolved at that time just prior to her starting, Hayden says. Sacramento State found another position for her in the duplicating office where her career got off to something of an inauspicious beginning. “I spent a week taking 10,000 staples out of the middle of the summer session catalogue because they forgot the middle page,” Hayden says.

After tours in accounting and the President’s Office, Hayden was secretary to the dean of students for 13 years, and landed in what was then University Affairs, coordinating the University’s commencements for 21 years.

Hayden’s latest duty with the Alumni Association was the most challenging. Overseeing association events such as the Distinguished Service Awards and Football Hall of Fame, as well as serving as building manager and booking private events in the Alumni Center, kept her busy. “It was a very rewarding job, but it had its stresses involved also,” she says.

Her most fulfilling role was organizing the graduation ceremonies. Seeing the reactions of students and their friends and families made the work well worthwhile. “A lot of jobs don’t provide that kind of satisfaction and immediate reward,” Hayden says.

After spending nearly two-thirds of her life at Sacramento State—often working evenings and weekends—Hayden doesn’t have any major retirement plans. “I’m just going to do what I want to do.” She’ll babysit her infant granddaughter and do a little traveling, but she’ll also be on hand for Sacramento State events, such as homecoming.