"Where Are They Now" - Sloane Bailey
"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 Sloane Bailey.
Sloane Bailey was a member of the Wells College women's soccer and lacrosse teams and graduated from Wells with major in mathematics and computer science in 1987.
Sloane played her last soccer game for Wells in 1986. Her career totals keep her in the Wells College women's soccer top-25 all-time in points and goals. Her 11-point game against Elmira on Sept. 29, 1984 still remains as one of the top women's soccer single game performances in Wells College women's soccer history. During her four years on the field, she took every penalty kick for the Express and scored every time. While her performances were clutch, one might also say she was "poetry in motion" on the field and her professors didn't learn until her graduation that the description was actually more literal.
She is a former women's soccer team captain who went on to earn her master's degree at NDU and began a career in a civilian role with the U.S. Air Force before moving on to the FDIC. She learned the game of lacrosse while at Wells and went on to play three seasons in the spring spanning the years from 1985-87.
In a brief question and answer segment with Sloane, 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: Soccer – fall 1983, 1984, 1985 & 1986; Co-captain 1983, 1984 & 1986; Lacrosse – spring 1985, 1986 & 1987; I had never played; Coach Kim Hutcherson taught me to play with a wooden stick!
Athletic and/or academic awards: Oldest award – poetry – awarded at Convocation 1987. My math professors/advisors – Mr. & Mrs. Shilepsky – were quite surprised!
Current occupation/job description: Senior Data Strategist for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). In this role, I lead the data strategy for the entire organization to achieve our mission while ensuring alignment with the federal laws and guidance. Prior to this position, I was Director of Data Strategy for the US Air Force, Chief Enterprise Architect for the US Air Force and Chief Business Architect for the US Marine Corps (All civilian positions). My Masters of Science is from the National Defense University (NDU) – Government Information Leadership, with the focus on Enterprise Architecture.
Professional and/or community clubs/associations: I've been a member of many organizations over the years, including being the registrar for the state-level adult USASA-affiliated organization. I also coach youth soccer (National "D" License). Professionally, I'm very involved in the data community. And I guest lecture at NDU. I played soccer – women's, coed, indoor, outdoor – for many years until injuries put me permanently on the sideline.
Reasons for choosing Wells to continue your athletic career: Wells offered an outstanding academic program AND soccer. I then learned to play lacrosse in order to stay in shape during the spring semesters. Wells has come a long way… back in the 1980s we did not have trainers or any of the equipment currently available. The workout room was pitiful. My junior year our coach, Dorsi Raynolds, purchased new jerseys for us with her own money because ours were horrid. We were lucky to have access to ice (usually scooped from the Dining Hall.) It is heartening to see the turf field, trainer facilities – even if in a trailer, and so many outstanding students recruited for athletics.
Favorite memory of Wells College: I truly enjoyed every practice and game. Staying late to practice free kicks and then running to the dining hall just in time to grab some dinner; driving to St Petersburg, Fla. in two vans to attend a lacrosse training camp spring 1987; creating goofy team dances to popular songs. But the best memories involve the relationships established. Several of my classmates remain very near and dear to me.
Advice you would give to current Wells College Student-Athletes: Embrace all that Wells has to offer. The student-faculty ratio is amazing. Take advantage. If you need help, ask. Reach out to alums. Take time to sit on the dock and watch sunsets. Read outside. Spend time with friends. Get to know those outside your circle. These people will be lifetime friends. Wells is an experience that you will never forget… do what you can to make it unforgettable.
