Meet a Colleague: Paige Gance Paige Gance serves as the assistant director of assessment strategy.

W&L News Office
August 7, 2024

Q. How long have you worked at W&L?
This summer marks five years.

Q. What do you like most about working at W&L?
I get to work on so many different types of interesting projects and in my new role, I’m working with faculty more, even some professors I had as an undergraduate. Seeing how much they care about their students reminds me what the work is all about.

Q. Where is your favorite location on the W&L campus?
I love the Belfield House. I had my wedding reception there and it has such a beautiful garden.

Q. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Wilton, Connecticut.

Q. What advice do you have for students?
Don’t be afraid to sign up for a club, trip, class, etc., even if no one you know is signed up. Some of my favorite Outing Club trips I went on a whim, didn’t know anyone beforehand, and had a fantastic time.

Q. What is the most adventurous thing that you have ever done?
Rafting the Upper Gauley River in West Virginia. It didn’t help that the guide kept pointing out rapids where people had recently drowned!

Q. What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not working?
It’s hard to choose, but I would say hiking or disc golf if the weather is nice, board games with friends otherwise.

Q. If you could live anywhere, where would you build your dream home?
Right here in Lexington!

Q. Who most inspires you?
My husband, Zander. He was the main driver of moving back to Lexington to open our shop because he didn’t want us to settle for living in D.C. when we weren’t happy there. I would have never been brave enough to depart from the “script” of what you’re supposed to do as a young adult without his confidence that everything would work out.

Q. What book are you reading now?
Right now, I’m re-reading “The Stormlight Archives” because I’ve heard the next book is finally coming out later this year. I’m always seeking recommendations for fantasy series, but only if the author has actually completed them (I’ve been hurt too many times)!

Q. What music are you listening to these days?
It’s different every day, but I’ve been listening to a lot of the bands coming to Lime Kiln this season because I’m excited for their shows.

Q. What is the website you visit most often and why?
My shop’s website, justgameslex.com, because I maintain it and we’re currently working on getting our inventory online.

Q. If you could have coffee with one person (living or deceased), who would it be and why?
I would pick my late grandmother, Marcelle. She grew up in a small village in France and was studying in Marseille when World War II broke out. She passed away before I was old enough to ask her much about her life.

Q. What is your desert island food?
Nachos, I don’t think I could ever get tired of them especially if I could change up the toppings.

Q. Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
I have a large and eclectic collection of foreign coinage. I’ve been collecting them ever since I randomly found a Spanish 100-pesetas coin on the bus in third grade. My goal is to one day have a coin from every country, including pre-euro.