Holy Cross has named John R. Hayes Jr., a graduate from the class of 1991, as its new vice president for advancement, effective Nov. 1, 2025.
Hayes, a seasoned advancement leader with more than 25 years of experience in higher education fundraising, alumni relations and campaign management, currently serves as vice chancellor for advancement and chief advancement officer at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester.
In that role, which he has held for the past decade, Hayes has overseen record-breaking fundraising growth, including two comprehensive campaigns: the $279 million Pathways of Promise Campaign and the ongoing $500 million Advancing Together Campaign, which has already raised $510 million to date.
Throughout his career, Hayes has been recognized for his collaborative, mission-driven approach to fundraising. At UMass Chan, he worked closely with leadership and faculty to establish more than 50 endowed chairs and term chairs, and 179 new endowment funds for scholarships, research, and institutional priorities. During that time, the medical school also secured the transformational $175 million naming gift from the Morningside Foundation, the largest in UMass history.
“John Hayes’ wealth of experience, forward-thinking leadership and deep ties to the Holy Cross community make him the perfect person to lead our advancement office during a time of great change in fundraising and higher education,” said Holy Cross President Vincent D. Rougeau. “I’m confident that John will help build on the progress we’ve made as part of our Aspire strategic plan, as we look towards our next campaign and continue to build a culture of philanthropy with a modern approach to fundraising.”
“I am thrilled to be returning to Mount St. James to join President Rougeau and his highly talented and committed leadership team,” Hayes said. “The Aspire strategic plan outlines a bold, inspiring vision for Holy Cross, and I am excited to partner with our trustees, faculty, alumni and parents to raise critical, transformational levels of funding to advance the vision and support the mission of the College.”
A native of Pelham, New Hampshire, and graduate of Bishop Guertin High School in Nashua, New Hampshire, Hayes attended Holy Cross on a Navy ROTC scholarship, graduating in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in history. Following his service as a U.S. Navy officer and commissioning crew member of the USS Vicksburg (CG-69), Hayes began his advancement career at Holy Cross as assistant director and, ultimately, director of the Holy Cross Fund, managing all aspects of annual alumni fundraising, including leadership giving societies, direct mail, telemarketing and reunion giving. In recognition of his early career success in Advancement, Hayes was recognized with the CASE Rising Star Award.
His career has also included leadership positions at UMass Boston and in corporate treasury at Fidelity Investments before he joined UMass Chan Medical School in 2007.
Hayes has been an active and dedicated Holy Cross alumnus for decades. His service includes roles as a class chair, reunion gift chair for multiple reunions, and president of the Holy Cross Alumni Association. For his dedicated, outstanding and lengthy commitment to alma mater, the HCAA recognized him with the In Hoc Signo Award in 2011, its highest honor. Currently, Hayes is on the executive committee of the O’Callahan Society, which encourages and cultivates the traditions associated with the Jesuit, liberal arts education of military and naval officers.
In addition to his Holy Cross degree, Hayes also holds an MBA from the F. W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College, where he was recognized with the Roger A. Babson Award.
Hayes, his wife, Nicole, and children, Mia '24 and Jack, reside in Andover, Massachusetts.
