Kathy Lay

Kathy Lay headshot

Kathleen Ann Lay


Assistant Professor

Communication


812-888-4350

kathleen.lay@vinu.edu

"The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people."
-- Theodore Roosevelt

Education

  • 1994 M.A., Speech Communication, Eastern Illinois University
  • 1992 B.S., Speech Communication, English minor & teacher certification, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

Accomplishments

  • Partnered with book packager Livingstone Corporation for multiple devotional book projects.
  • Certificate of Recognition for "The positive influence...made on the academic success of our first year students." Presented by ISU’s First Year Initiative of Residential Life, 2006.
  • Professor of the Month, awarded by the Women of Delta Gamma, ISU, Spring 2005.
  • Designed and delivered corporate communication workshops for organizations.
  • Educational Excellence Award, 2000. "In recognition of...outstanding accomplishments as an educator in the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana State University."
Assistant Professor Kathy Lay has built a career focused on education, communication, and real-world application. As a freelance writer, she has published magazine articles and partnered with Livingstone Corporation on multiple devotional book projects. At Indiana State University, she was recognized for significant academic impact, including a Certificate of Recognition from ISU’s First Year Initiative of Residential Life in 2006, highlighting a positive influence on the academic success of first-year students. She was also awarded Professor of the Month by the Women of Delta Gamma and received the Educational Excellence Award for outstanding achievements as an educator in Indiana State University's College of Arts and Sciences.
 
After serving as adjunct faculty in the Communication Department at Vincennes University from 2016 to 2019, Professor Lay returned as a full-time faculty member in 2023, enriched by industry experience from Toyota, where work included hiring decisions and public relations functions. This background allows her to bridge theoretical curriculum with practical insights, especially in her Introduction to Public Relations course, where field trips, case studies, and outreach projects connect students to industry contacts and hands-on learning. She is also dedicated to helping students across all majors develop essential public speaking and interpersonal communication skills critical for career readiness.