The latest addition to our series of Alumni Council Q&As features Council member Alexa "Lex" Baily (MA '21).
Q: Where did you receive your undergraduate degree, and what was your major? Where did life take you from there, before you ended up at Waynesburg University?
I graduated from Ohio State University (we love to say THE Ohio State University) with a degree in History and Political Science. Upon graduation, I worked for the Ohio House of Representatives in the Ohio Statehouse for a few years. I loved state government! I got to work “state side” in a legislative office as well as “campaign side” working on various state-wide campaigns.
When I was in college, I was a Young Life leader in Columbus, and many leaders from the region moved to Pittsburgh to reboot Pittsburgh Young Life; a spot opened to be on Young Life Staff in Washington and Greene Counties here in Pennsylvania. The regional director of Pittsburgh Young Life was the city director of Columbus Young Life during my college years, so he reached out to see if I was interested in the Washington and Greene Counties area director position, and I moved to PA in December 2017.
Q: What is your background at Waynesburg, both as a staff member and a graduate student? Which degree did you receive, and when did you receive it?
I started working at Waynesburg in August 2019 in a dual position; I worked in student support in the Pathways Center and in the Academic Affairs office in event planning. I was accepted to the Master of Arts in Counseling program in August 2018 but deferred for a year since I was not sure I was staying in Waynesburg or not. The job at the University and starting graduate school just happened to coincide but worked out very well! After I graduated with a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling in May 2021, I began as a University Counselor and the Disability Services Coordinator. I also taught Sociology 105 as an adjunct.
Q: Where has life taken you since receiving your graduate degree from Waynesburg?
I worked at Waynesburg University as a University Counselor and Disability Services Coordinator (roles I loved!) until July 2022. I had my first daughter, Gianna, in January 2022 and decided to stay home with her apart from still teaching a section of Sociology 105 as an adjunct. I had another daughter, Isabella, in December 2023.
Q: What are your current jobs/titles?
Currently I am mostly a stay-at-home mom. I do teach one section a semester of Sociology 105 because I absolutely love teaching and I love being with students!
Q: Can you describe your typical day?
On a day that I teach, I typically wake up at 5:45 a.m. to exercise before my girls wake up. I appreciate the moments to myself! Then I make coffee and breakfast for them before taking them to my in-laws’ house where I leave them while I teach. They live about 1.5 miles from campus which makes it highly convenient, and my girls get to spend time with their grandparents or aunt! After class, I pick them up and come home for lunch. I will usually put them down for a nap; during their nap I will do some various housework activities, respond to emails, grade papers, and check my lesson plans for the upcoming classes. After the girls wake up, we do some playing (hopefully outside) and then I start dinner. My husband (Tim Baily '03) comes home from work, we’ll eat together, maybe do more playing, and then put the girls to sleep. I may stay up watching TV if I am hooked on a show, or I will read!
Q: Can you describe your time in the graduate program at Waynesburg and how it shaped you both professionally and personally?
I had the greatest experience in the Master of Arts in Counseling program. It is hard to go through a graduate counseling program and not learn a lot (maybe too much!) about yourself. Professionally, I learned that being a counselor truly fills my life. I absolutely enjoyed state government and still miss it, but being a counselor brings my gifts alive. One of my favorite parts of being involved in students’ lives is encouraging them to seek out their createdness to see how God has specifically gifted them and live into their gifts because of how meaningful it can be.
Q: Who was your favorite professor at Waynesburg, and why?
Dr. Steimer; she was always so authentic with us and encouraging. I appreciated her deep wisdom in the field of counseling as a therapist herself, but also just as a human. She was genuine and saw specific traits in each student that she drew out and brought to life.
Q: What is your favorite memory as a Waynesburg student and/or faculty/staff member?
I have so many, it is hard to choose! As a student, it would have to be our last class before winter break 2019. Dr. Steimer was pulling each of us out of class to have a one-on-one meeting to discuss our track through the program. The students left in the room decided to put on music and have a dance party! She came back in the room stunned, but amused.
As a faculty/staff member, I have to say any time spent with my dear colleagues Sarah Bell and Brian Carr. I also had some pivotal moments with students as a counselor which were significant in my professional life.
Q: Why is staying connected with the University important to you?
I love Waynesburg University! I love the family atmosphere, the close connections, a shared mission; it is a wonderful place to learn, play, grow, and serve.
Q: What does your role as an Alumni Council member entail, and what motivates you to give back to the University in this way?
As aforementioned, I just love WU. As an Alumni Council member, I am hopefully sharing valuable insight and social capital to help the University and our community live out the mission of WU and impact students while doing so.
Q: What advice do you have for current students? For recent graduates?
For current students, I think it is important to take advantage of the significant opportunities WU provides to understand oneself and know oneself in the context of each role. For example, who are you as a student, friend, employee, as a leader, and maybe athlete? What gifts do you have and what do you bring as a child of God? I think it is important to take this crucial time in life to grow in self-awareness and understanding. I also think getting plugged into community can change your life, whether that be an organization on campus, a Bible study, a sports team, etc.
For recent graduates, I feel compelled to say that while I dearly loved my first job out of college, those were some lonely years. I was no longer living on a campus in a house of seven other women in an easy-to-reach community of peers. I wish someone would’ve told me that before I was thrust out into “the real world.”