Snivelys are Making a Difference in the Lives of Students and Communities

When it comes to working toward the success of any project, husband and wife Patrick and Amy Snively do it best together. The two recently joined the Davis & Elkins College campus community where they brought their expertise to individual departments and their teamwork to benefit the institution as a whole. Patrick Snively is the College’s new athletic director, while Amy Snively came on board as the academic success coach for The Naylor Learning Center. Their new positions at Davis & Elkins overlap in service to student-athletes. “I want to get student-athletes connected to all the resources they have available on campus so they can be successful,” Patrick explained. “Amy is working with student-athletes and other students to ensure they are successful academically.” Working on the same campus isn’t a new venture for the couple. Previously they held posts at their alma mater, Fairmont State University, where they met as freshmen. However, last year, their job sites put a distance between the two – Patrick moved on to become the director of athletics at Wheeling University and Amy remained in her post at Fairmont. Patrick’s tenure at Fairmont began as a coach and continued as an administrator. As associate director of athletics for NCAA compliance he developed department and institutionwide enrollment initiatives aimed at supporting recruitment and retention objectives, while implementing policies and procedures specific to compliance objectives. He rose to senior director of athletics and worked as an executive staff member to assist in the day-to-day operations of the department, placing emphasis on leadership and development for the athletic staff, coaches and student-athletes. Patrick also coached the Fairmont State men’s and women’s swimming teams from 2001-2020 and earned a position on the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Board of Directors. He coached swimmers to 26 All-American performances, 91 school records, eight National Swimmer of the Week honors and conference Swimmer of the Year recognition 11 times. The 2005 West Virginia Intercollegiate Conference (WVIAC) Men’s Coach of the Year and 2018 Mountain East Conference (MEC) Women’s Coach of the Year, Patrick served on the NCAA Division II National Swimming and Diving Championships Committee. As chair, he helped establish a new National Championships qualification procedure that went

into effect with 2017-2018 season and oversaw planning and execution of 2018 NCAA DII Swimming and Diving National Championships from start to finish. Amy served as an academic coach and program specialist in the Office of Accessibility Services. In addition to those duties, she was the project director for Autism Welcome Here: Library Programs, Services and More grant and a member of the Campus Coordinated Response to Interpersonal Violence Team. “I really enjoy helping people, especially people with disabilities. That’s a passion for both of us,” Amy said. That passion is evident in several of the Snivelys’ projects and pursuits. Patrick brought an autism swimming challenge to Fairmont State, and Amy has served on the board of the Family Resource Network in Marion County. The couple are both graduates of Leadership Marion and have volunteered at United Way agencies. The Snivelys paired up to serve as co-chairs for the 2020 United Way of Marion and Taylor Counties fundraising campaign. Their combined efforts helped the organization raise more than $500,000 for only the second time in its history. “United Way means so much to us and we want to stay connected with it,” Patrick Patrick and Amy Snively have begun their new journey at Davis & Elkins said. College. Patrick has taken the reins as Director of Athletics, while Amy The Snivelys’ commitment to the academic success coach at The Naylor Learning Center. service likely comes from their upbringing and true beliefs that they can make a difference in the lives of others. “We both come from families that are more than willing to step in and do anything for anyone,” Patrick said. For all they share in common, there are some differences. It’s those differences they use to their advantage to solve any dilemma. “Because we work together, we always have the ability to bounce ideas off each other,” Amy explained. “We have different perspectives because of our varied experiences. It’s always good to consider another’s point of view to learn how areas work together.” Now settling into their new careers, the Snivelys are ready to connect with the community in a meaningful way. “I feel like this place at this time of our lives is the perfect fit for us,” Patrick said. “Everybody is so welcoming, so committed to this institution and the students, and so willing to work together. And, this place is beautiful. It’s the complete and total package.”