Title: Scott Wells Oral History Interview, June 4, 2020.

Identifier: UA95.18.02   (https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/62319)

Description: Video recording of Scott Wells' interview for the "The Rise of Alpha Dog" oral history project conducted by Don Leggett. The project explores perceptions of East Carolina as an "underdog" or "alpha dog." Wells speaks about her childhood in Rocky Mount and Greenville and her experiences with ECC/ECU as a student at Wahl-Coates Laboratory School, a ECC student, and working for ECU as Assistant Alumni Director. Wells and Leggett discuss historical perceptions of ECC/ECU as an "underdog" school and how that influenced the university's growth and the athletic programs. Leggett asks Wells several questions about the tipping point between an "underdog" school and an "alpha dog" school, whether she thinks ECU has passed that point, if any part of the university community or athletics fans have felt reluctant to give up the "underdog" role, the largest obstacle ECU faces in reaching its potential and how to tell when that potential has been reached, and whether working to increase academic excellence conflicts with ECU's role in the economic development of Eastern North Carolina and the commitment to serve. Leggett asks if Wells would like to add anything further, and she replies that ECU should market itself by emphasizing the number of teachers, doctors, and nurses that graduate from ECU and remain in North Carolina, and that successful alumni should be involved and support the university.