Dr. Rupert A. Hayles, Jr. began his tenure at Pillar College two years ago. He is responsible for accurately administering the organizational, operational, strategic, and financial concerns of Pillar College for assuring organizational effectiveness, budget compliance, and financial stability. With more than twenty years’ experience in leadership and management capacity, Dr. Hayles has worked for Cytec Industries, Prudential Financial and Merck Pharmaceutical. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Information Systems from Seton Hall University and a MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
In addition to his roles in corporate America, Dr. Hayles was previously Executive Pastor at The Life Christian Church in West Orange, NJ, and prior to that, the COO at Christ Church, an 8,000-member organization in both Montclair and Rockaway, New Jersey. Dr. Hayles is also the Chairman of Organization and People Dynamics, a holding company for two key organizations, The Center for Emotional Development and The Center for Emotional and Spiritual Development (consultancies dedicated to serving for-profit and non-profit industries). He is the author of The Church and Emotional Intelligence and Practical Strategy: Aligning Business and Information Technology. Dr. Hayles previously served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force where he trained as a pilot in T-37 aircraft in the area of flight physiology, meteorology and aircraft systems. He continues to hold a FAA Private Pilot License and has done so since 1987.
“Since 2019, I have had the pleasure of being part of a dynamic ministry at Pillar College that helps and shares next generation of leaders. As a jewel within the city of Newark, Pillar College for me means that I have the privilege of being among co-laborers who strive for mastery. Mastery is not solely for our students, but it is also for leadership. For within leadership, it is important to understand that the head governs the entire body. This is undisputed in both the secular and spiritual realm, which is why I am so honored to serve at Pillar College: educating, inspiring and equipping our community with tools for mastery.”
“Our efforts of mastery is towards our primary stakeholders, our students Without them, there is no need for us to be here. So my entire focus and all that I do is to inspire the team to do better, be better, exact betterment upon all that we do towards making our students lives better, not just now, but in the future.”
