"Where Are They Now" - Durrie Durant Golding
"Where Are They Now" is a Wells College Athletics series that spotlights graduates with an inside look at some of the many special student-athletes from years past. We would love to tell your story; knowing that part of your life journey involved your time at Wells! Today's segment features Durrie Durant Golding.
Durrie Durant Golding was a member of three Wells College teams that included field hockey, lacrosse club and odd basketball and graduated from Wells with a major in sociology and minor in anthropology in 1979. In addition to her collegiate athletics experiences, Durrie excelled in the classroom and was the recipient of the Wells College Sociology Award at graduation. On the field, she was a true pioneer that helped establish field hockey at Wells. Just as she excelled on the field, she also did in her career after Wells as evidenced by prior recognition by her current employer - Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic (PPHP) - as its Employee of the Year Award winner, which recognized her dedication in keeping health centers open and available for all women, men and young people and allowed access to a variety of health services, counseling and education options in her community.
In a brief question and answer segment with Durrie, we asked her to reflect on her time at Wells in looking back, while at the same time offering some advice to current and future Wells College student-athletes:
Wells College teams participated on and years of participation: Field Hockey (1975-1979), Lacrosse Club (1978-1979), Odd Basketball team (1975-1976)
Current occupation: Six years at Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic (PPHP); Job Title: Development Coordinator, Administration & Stewardship; with the following duties: all gift acknowledgments and data entry associated with gifts; manage schedule for CDO and regional director of philanthropy; assist development team with all activities around event planning and funding; work with board of directors and development committee; steward special gift awards; process weekly data reports from our national office in NYC; and maintain the development department budget.
N.Y. Professional and/or community clubs/associations:
a. Chair, Worship & Music Commission on Vestry at Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Chappaqua.
b. Member of choir at Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Chappaqua, N.Y. (over 25 years).
c. Past president and choral member of Hudson Chorale in Pleasantville, N.Y. (over 25 years).
d. Choral member Old Mill Singers in Ossining, N.Y. (past two years).
Reasons for choosing Wells to continue your athletic career: I did not choose Wells due to athletics as not many programs were in place in 1975; mostly clubs; helped start the field hockey team in fall 1975. Chose Wells for single-sex education, campus location and the very welcoming atmosphere felt when I came for my interview.
Favorite memory of Wells College:
a. Ringing of the bells for occasions celebrated by our alums.
b. Receiving of our class mugs.
c. Odd – Even Basketball Tournament (and all things related to Odd-Even).
Advice you would give to current Wells College Student-Athletes: Be bold, be brave - try anything! Now is the time to experiment with your studies and extra-curricular activities.
