University of Minnesota Athletics
Black History Month: Dana (Joubert) Hayes
2/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
In honor of Black History Month, Gopher Athletics is celebrating those who made us great. Throughout February, GopherSports.com will share short interviews with African-American alumni from almost every Gopher program. In these interviews, former student-athletes reflect on their time at the U of M, provide advice to current Gophers and share what Black History Month means to them personally.
Dana (Joubert) Hayes
Sport: Basketball
Years: 1988-92
Hometown: Detroit, Mich.
Occupation: Child Protection Social Worker
What is it you miss most about the University?
I miss the team environment and having teammates that are always there for me. I miss having class be my only worry! Being a student-athlete was an awesome experience.
If you could give the current student-athletes any piece of advice, what would it be?
Value and nurture the relationships you make during this time in your life. They will serve incredible roles in your future. There is nothing like being a part of a family that extends past your inner circle, team, coaches, staff, community, fans...
Please share your favorite university or athletic event you've attended since you graduated and what made it so special to you?
I think my most memorable event was driving with my family, my daughters were approximately eight and five years old, to South Bend, Ind., for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Being there and supporting my alma mater in their upset over Notre Dame was awesome. Somehow my daughter was allowed to shoot her imaginary basketball and play on the court following the game. We have pictures of her with the NCAA Tournament logo in the background. This is now a dream that she is hoping to fulfill when she begins college next year.
What are you grateful for?
I am grateful for everyone that I had an opportunity to meet and develop friendships/acquaintanceships with as part of the women's basketball team and as a student-athlete at the University of Minnesota. Things that I never thought about played major roles in the person that I have become. I am grateful for all of the pieces â€" the good, the bad and the ugly â€" because without them I would not be as strong as I am today.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
Black History Month is a time for reflection, to acknowledge and honor those that came before us. Those that helped lay a path, build bridges and made incredible sacrifices to further advance African Americans to be equal in the society in which we are living.
What occupies your time now?
My time is occupied being a mom to two beautiful young women, ages 14 and 17, and a wife. I am a Child Protection Social Worker for Hennepin County by career and I serve as an Assistant High School Girls Basketball Coach at Park Center H.S. Basketball is still a huge part of my life. I enjoy watching, coaching and, up until just a couple years ago, playing.