Connectional Officer’s Granddaughter Honored with University of Arkansas 2023 Young Alumni Award

On October 20, 2023, the University of Arkansas honored Ms. Raya Clay with a 2023 Young Alumni Award. The Young Alumni Award recognizes exceptional achievements in career, public service, and volunteer activities that bring honor to the University of Arkansas. Ms. Clay is the granddaughter of Connectional Lay Organization 1st Vice President Dr. Dorothy C. Henderson.

Raya Clay is a 2x Emmy Award Winning Producer. She’s currently a Digital Talent Producer at FOX Sports in Los Angeles, California. She produces MLB, WWE, and NFL. She’s currently the lead Producer for FOX Sports’ WWE podcast “Out of Character.” Raya has ten years of experience working in the sports industry for national television networks.

Before FOX Sports, Raya was an Associate Producer II at ESPN. During her stint at ESPN, she won 2 Emmy Awards for Sportscenter documentaries and produced MLB, Little League World Series, NFL, ESPN E60, and College Football.

Raya’s efforts and successes have landed her coverage in broadcast and print outlets. These include media like Yahoo, Blavity, Her Campus, Los Angeles Tribune, and more.

Raya graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. While at the University of Arkansas, she covered football, baseball, basketball, and track. She also worked for ESPN’s “SEC Network” as a Production Assistant while balancing her studies.

Raya enjoys mentoring other young professionals who aspire to land a role in the TV industry and has a social media audience of over 10,000 people. She uses her platform to encourage, inspire, and motivate others to chase their dreams. She’s also a member of the Junior League of Los Angeles.

Clay’s work gamers national acclaim, including receiving a:

2020 Emmy Award for SportsCenter Presents: 2020 Heroes, Histo, y and Hop
2021 Emmy Award for SportsCenter Presents: Kobe-Legend and Lega
2021 NAACP Woman of the Year Award for journalism and communication arts.
2022 Fox Sports Woman of the Week.

Clay is also the founder of The Raya Shop, an online boutique she launched in 2019.

She is a graduate of Monticello High School class of 2011, and she is the daughter of Jo Ann Smith-Lee, and the granddaughter of Charlie Mae Smith-Jackson of Wilmar and Larry and Dr. Dorothy Henderson of Warren, Arkansas.