Meet a Colleague: Dave Wells Dave Wells serves as a custodian for the university.

W&L News Office
April 16, 2025

Q. How long have you worked at W&L?
I have been working at W&L for nearly six years.

Q. What do you like most about working at W&L?
I love the ability to have meaningful conversations across generations of students and staff.

Q. Where is your favorite location on the W&L campus?
It is a mix between the disc golf course, the fitness center and the rocking chairs throughout campus.

Q. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Castlewood and Esserville, Virginia, in the Heart of Appalachia in deep Southwestern Virginia.

Q. What is the most adventurous thing that you have ever done?
It’s a toss up between serving at risk adolescents in rural Appalachia as a Young Life Director for 17 years and raising a twin daughter and son and their younger brother as a single father.

Q. What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not working?
I love to run, garden and take photographs.

Q. If you could live anywhere, where would you build your dream home?
I would build a bigger scale Hobbit home in New Zealand.

Q. Who most inspires you?
Britten Olinger, who is the track coach at Catawba College. He also coached at Eastern Mennonite University and Montreat College. He was my former Young Life student leader and college leader. He has endured so much after a car wreck placed him in a wheelchair. His faith and tenacity to continue to coach All-America level athletes is incredible.

Q. What book are you reading now?
“Wild” by Cheryl Strayed. The book is about the Pacific Crest Trail. I’m also reading “The Similarian” by J.R.R. Tolkien, “West Heads Home” by Peter Farnham and “Practicing the Way” by John Mark Comer.

Q. What music are you listening to these days?
Christian Hip Hop when I run and a wide variety sporadically. I enjoy local live music such as So Diverse, Jason Hostetter, Eric Yost, The Pickup Band, Little Marvin and the Martians, Bruce Allen and Jason Burke to name a few.

Q. What is your favorite film (movie) of all time?
My favorite movie is “To End All Wars.”

Q. What is the website you visit most often and why?
Runsignup.com to manage the Woods Creek Run 4 The Kids event that I direct.

Q. If they made a movie about your life, who would play you?
George Clooney or Chris Pratt.

Q. Which historical figure do you most identify with and why?
Peter, the rough around the edges disciple of Jesus.

Q. If you could have coffee with one person, who would it be and why?
I would love to have coffee with my mother before she had Alzheimer’s because I miss her terribly.

Q. What is your desert island food?
Hot Fudge Cake.

Q. What is your secret talent?
Karaoke – people either love or hate it. 😆

Q. Anything else you’d like to share?
I have written devotional books that I only published for friends. I may start writing again one day. As an ordained minister, I also share a weekly message on grace and offer “Peace to You” nuggets every Sunday.