“Often, new students come to D&E and, as they try to figure out who I am, summon the courage to ask, ‘Are you a professor?’ I always smile and say, ‘No, I am a student just like you! Remember, you’re never too old to learn.’”

A “non-traditional” student who is a mom and a grandmother, this quote comes from Shelley Steff, a senior at Davis & Elkins College.

Shelley entered the U.S. Air Force at age 20 and spent 14 years overseas in both military and civilian roles. Following the dissolution of her 23-year marriage, a series of difficult circumstances led to homelessness and despair.  Living in Nashville, she experienced a calling to relocate to West Virginia, a place she had visited and fallen in love with during her military service. A new home promised a fresh start. Through a vocational program at the Veterans Administration in Clarksburg, a life-changing door opened and introduced her to Davis & Elkins College.

Through the VA, Shelley enrolled in a workforce-related class taught by Kim Morgan, Assistant Professor of Psychology at D&E. Walking into that initial class, she was intimidated and feared that this “lovely, educated woman” would look down upon her. Instead, she encountered a compassionate mentor who, in Shelley’s words, “treated her and all of her students with respect and love.” It was Professor Morgan who opened Shelley’s eyes to the power and possibility of higher education.

In August 2023, Shelley officially became a student at D&E. She admits initially being petrified and out of her element. Yet the support of faculty, fellow students, and The Naylor Learning Center quickly gave her the confidence needed. Reflecting on her time at D&E, Shelley says she has discovered strengths and abilities she never knew she possessed. Along the way, she has become an inspiration to classmates, faculty, and staff alike.

Faith has long been a central part of Shelley’s life. Her years overseas exposed her to a variety of religious traditions, and the powerful role faith plays in shaping one’s values and worldview. The kindness and support she experienced in countries far from home deepened her own faith and strengthened her sense of calling. During some of the darkest chapters of her life, Shelley credits her faith in God with sustaining her and giving her the courage to persevere. At D&E, her vocational calling has been brought into focus by Professor Morgan, Chaplain Tanner Capps, and the founder of the College’s Morrison-Novakovic Center for Faith and Public Policy, Dr. David Morrison.

Today, Shelley serves as a volunteer chaplain at Davis Medical Center in Elkins and hopes to pursue full-time chaplaincy after obtaining a graduate theological education. Inspired by the kindness and guidance she received, she has also established a scholarship at Davis & Elkins called “Serving Those Who Serve Others.” The scholarship is designed to support non-traditional students who are making a difference in the lives of those serving others, including the unhoused, addicted, and abused.

What began as a journey toward a new life has become a calling to serve others. Through her faith, perseverance, and commitment to helping those most in need, Shelley reminds us that some of life’s greatest lessons are learned not in the face of success, but in the courage to begin again.

The journey continues…


Chris A. Wood
President
Davis & Elkins College