Compassionate professor praised for babysitting student's child during class at Morehouse College

ATLANTA — (WSB/CNN) - A compassionate photo taken Friday at a college in Atlanta quickly went viral over the weekend.

The picture shows a professor at Morehouse College holding a baby girl while teaching class, and it is being lauded as higher education at its best.

The infant was the daughter of a young student, Wayne Hayer, who is preparing for midterm exams and couldn't find a babysitter.

It's Dr. Nathan Alexander's job to solve problems. The Morehouse professor said he will take any steps to help a student in need.

Last Friday, he was a little nervous about stepping into Alexander's algebra class.

"Right when I was about to turn around, I was like, 'I'm not doing this, I'm going home.' And right when I was about to turn around, Dr. Alexander told me, 'No. Come. Come, come, come,’"said Hayer.

Hayer had his baby daughter, Asada, with him. His wife was busy getting their child's birth certificate, and they couldn't get a babysitter.

"He saw me with my book bag and baby backpack and said, 'You know what? You could take notes better if I held her,'” said Hayer.

"Oh, she was so sweet. She had a pacifier there, and I was rocking her as I was doing some of the equations," said Alexander.

Classmate Nick Vaughn took the pictures that have gone viral.

"Man, if I could show my mom this when I get home, she won't believe it!" said Vaughn.

Hayer said he'll never forget this act of kindness -- from a teacher he will always look up to.

"We see you. A young father trying to do your thing, bringing your baby to class. We're not here to judge you. We're rooting for you. That was the most important part to me," said Hayer.

The president of Morehouse College lauded the professor's actions on Twitter, calling it "love" and "commitment."