Honors Staff

Distinguished scholar, professor and administrator Paul A. Schlag, Ph.D. is the Inaugural Executive Director of the Honors College at Central State University. Previously, Dr. Schlag served as the director and formerly as the associate director of the Centennial Honors College, as the inaugural chief of staff of the university, as an assistant department chair and as a professor at Western Illinois University. Having taught and developed in excess of 30 different online and in-person courses over his 20-year academic career, he received the highest awards for teaching at the department, college and university level, culminating with the Provost’s Award in Teaching. His impressive academic dossier includes a plethora of publications, including book chapters, peer reviewed journal articles, popular articles and invited peer reviews. He has presented at conferences around the world and led a study abroad trip to Russia (he is fluent in Russian). As an engaged citizen, he has enjoyed serving as a coach and scout leader in the community, and also as the vice chair and board member of the Macomb Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau.

Dr. Schlag graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Recreation Management and Youth Leadership and earned Masters Degrees from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs in Public Administration and the University of Georgia in Instructional Technology (with Distinction). He completed his doctorate in Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Georgia.

An experienced, passionate, and dedicated higher education administrator, Dr. Schlag's academic interests include: student development, fiscal management, innovative teaching and learning, marketing, recruitment, retention, civic engagement, public administration, instructional technology, and lifelong learning. Higher education is a proven path to upward mobility and instrumental to fulfillment and development, so he desires that all individuals reap the multitudinous benefits of a university education.

Working with Central State University students on a daily basis is Paul's greatest reward and his sincerest wish is to see his students advance, grow, seek excellence and succeed. His teaching and mentoring centers around community service and his students are actively involved in learning through community engagement (Service Week & Community Programs)

Originally from Colorado Springs, Dr. Schlag has also lived in Utah, Russia (twice), Georgia, Illinois and Ohio. He and his wife Abigail have four outstanding children and love to read, play sports, be outdoors, enjoy music, volunteer and participate in church.

Mrs. Sarah Armstrong-Jones (she/her) is the Honors Program Manager. She has over 15 years in the area of education. She has been an English, Literature, and First Year Seminar instructor at several colleges and universities in the area, including at Central State University since 2014. Over the years, she has become certified with the National Tutoring Association, been an Advanced Placement Rater for Educational Testing Services, presented in conferences throughout the Midwest, and become Quality Matters certified.

Mrs. Jones has a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Communication, and she graduated from Wright State University that year with Cum Laude. She holds a Masters of English from Southern New Hampshire University and a Masters of Education with a 7th-12th grade teaching license from Antioch McGregor University. Currently, she is working towards her EdD in Organizational Leadership from Concordia University Chicago.

A certified change agent who is passionate about equitable education and access and who believes in the power of knowledge to transform lives for the better, she has focused her life’s work on student retention and success. Her theses have focused on constructivist learning, practical lesson planning for minority students, re-envisioning the writing process within communities, writing as a form of recovery, Ebonics in the classroom, and hands-on learning. Through instructional technology, current educational pedagogy, inclusion, and student-centered learning, it is her desire to continue to promote learning and success for all students. Mrs. Jones and her husband, Di’Angelo, have four children and one grandchild. They enjoy traveling, watching movies, reading, participating in church functions, going to the theater, and following Ohio sports.

An alumnus of Central State University, Theresa Aikens, Ph.D. (she, her) is the Honors and International Student Advisor. A passionate social psychologist with a concentration in stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination, Dr. Aikens is committed to helping people reach their aspirations. With over twenty years of experience working with students at different stages of the educational process, she is student-focused and engaged. As International Student Advisor, her desire is to prepare the international students for success by taking a more holistic approach to academic and professional development, social and community engagement, and cultural inclusion.

Dr. Aikens graduated from CSU with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology. She went on to earn her master’s and Ph.D. in social psychology from Walden University. She is a member of Golden Key International Honor Society, Psi Chi International Honor Society, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society. An experienced psychology instructor, she currently teaches for the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at CSU. She is committed to the mission of academics, higher education, and CSU. Her goal is ensuring CSU students enjoy a healthy, rewarding matriculation culminating in a timely degree that will be useful and fulfilling for their future. She firmly believes that, ultimately, CSU students can be change agents for their families, their communities, and the world.

Dr. Aikens and her husband, Dr. Fred Aikens, also a CSU alumnus, have two adult children. Their daughter earned her bachelor’s degree from CSU in 2016. The Drs. Aikens also have the two most wonderful grandchildren ever.

Mrs. Hayes joined Central State University (CSU) in 2010 after a 24-year career in the automotive industry successfully managing product program development, cost improvement initiatives and human resources. An experienced administrator, Mrs. Hayes has exercised her knowledge and critical thinking skills in Facilities Management (Manager) and the Office of the President (Executive Assistant to the President; Chief of Staff), where she contributed to the development and implementation of the 2014-2020 Strategic Plan and the planning/oversite committees for the University Student Center, Botanical Garden, first apartment-style residence hall and upgrades to McPherson Stadium among other University accomplishments. More recently, under her leadership as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, the University experienced record new student enrollment (2018), maintained low on-campus infection rates amid the COVID-19 pandemic and expanded the entire Division’s student support services and activities to 100% online delivery.

Mrs. Hayes holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and Public Policy (double major) from Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a Master of Science degree in Manufacturing Management from Kettering University, Flint, Michigan, and a Master of Science in Operations Management also, from Kettering University. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and several other professional organizations.

Mrs. Hayes is a passionate student-centered leader. “The goal is to produce mature civic-minded life-long learners prepared for graduate school and or their chosen career fields. Support services, innovative programming, leadership opportunities and internships are the kinds of collegiate experiences that lead to achieving the goal, Student Success. This is our mission and daily focus.”

Together, she and her husband, Rev. Frederick Hayes, Sr. have three children and two grandchildren. The younger two children, Frederick Jr. and Taylor Marie are proud Centralians, 2018 and 2020, respectively.

Fun facts: Outside of Central State, Mrs. Hayes is an author, singer, song writer/composer and choir director who loves musical theater, sports, and roller coasters.

Educated and compassionate, Ms. Bre Matthews is the Administrative Coordinator of the Honors College at Central State University. Prior to being a part of the Central State family, Ms. Matthews was a Front Desk Associate at a medical massage clinic in Dayton, OH.

Ms. Matthews graduated from Cincinnati State Technical and Community College with a degree in Graphic Imaging Technology, which led to her becoming the only female Digital Pressman.

Outside of work, Ms. Matthews is a softball mom to a wonderful daughter, a Mary Kay consultant, an Alabama Crimson Tide fan during football season, and an engaged citizen, finding different ways to help the community.

Fun fact about Ms. Matthews is that she was born and raised in Metter, Georgia and moved Ohio to 16 years ago.