For her children—Bill Giles '81, Tom Giles '80, Nancy (Giles) Encarnacion '77, and John Giles—Alfred wasn't simply where their mother worked or attended school. It was part of everyday life.
Their family's memories share a common thread: Alfred felt remarkably connected—a community defined by the close relationship between the University and the village.
Growing up in Alfred, Bill remembers a town where families regularly attended concerts, athletic events, lectures, and performances on campus. Nationally known musicians, orchestras, and guest speakers enriched life in the community, while Alfred's School of Art and Design and nationally recognized ceramics program broadened his family's perspective on art and the creative world around them.
"Alfred University has never been just a school—it has always felt like home to our family," Bill says.
Tom shares a similar perspective. Looking back, he believes growing up in Alfred offered opportunities and experiences that influenced his worldview long before he enrolled as a student.
"Given how small and rural the town was, Alfred offered residents remarkable cultural experiences," Tom says. "The art school and local pottery scene broadened our views.”
Just as meaningful was the community itself. Growing up alongside people from different racial, religious, and cultural backgrounds—experiences that were uncommon in many rural communities at the time—taught him lessons about acceptance, respect, and inclusion that stayed with him throughout his life.
Tom also came to appreciate how living in a college town influenced the local schools and encouraged academic achievement. Surrounded by University faculty, staff, and families who valued education, he believes Alfred nurtured a culture where learning was simply part of everyday life.
Those early experiences made attending Alfred feel like a natural choice for the Giles children.
With his mother working at the University, Bill had the opportunity to become a student himself. It was there that he met fellow College of Business accounting student Jill (Peperone) Giles '81.
As juniors, Bill and Jill became Resident Assistants and were assigned to the same residence hall. They shared many of the same accounting classes, spent countless hours studying and working on projects together, and developed a close friendship. Although they met as students, they didn't begin dating until after graduation.
Tom, who majored in finance, found that his own experience confirmed what he had long appreciated about Alfred.
"The small classes and access to professors were a huge advantage," he says. "Sometimes a bump in the road to learning could be easily remedied by a short visit with a professor. By the time we were seniors, professors knew our strengths and weaknesses, offered advice on career paths, and were genuinely interested in our success."
Bill agrees that what makes Alfred special isn't one defining moment but the University's steady presence throughout his family's life.
"Alfred has remained a constant in our lives—steady, familiar, and meaningful," he says.
