“You can hear rapids before you get to them or sometimes see them,” he said. “You start to think how you’re going to get through them, and then you turn the corner and get through them. It’s sort of similar to life.”

Sloan’s journey began at Princeton University in the 1960s. After two years, he had to withdraw to help out his family business. Like the river he describes, life continued to ebb and flow. He took courses at Butler University, changed jobs, took courses at Indiana University, changed jobs again – but never finished his degree.

Now at 83, UofL is giving him that opportunity.

This December, Sloan will graduate with a bachelor’s degree thanks to the . In Kentucky, students 65 and older can take a select number of classes for free at any state-supported institution within the commonwealth.

The world has changed drastically since Sloan began college. He remembers the first personal computers that ran on punch cards. Now, he’s finishing his degree entirely .

But for Sloan, earning his degree isn’t just about checking a box. He spent most of his life as a crafts salesman, traveling and selling fabric, yarn and other art supplies. His education was an education built by doing. Those experiences, he said, enriched his academic work.

“If you like what you are doing, you will like it more after becoming better educated,” Sloan said. “It’s a good way to improve yourself, learn how to do a better job and become a better person.”

Sloan says continuing to learn – at any age – is part of what keeps him energized.

“I think it makes you happier because you’re learning about the world,” he said.

He often thinks of a quote from actress Olivia de Havilland, who lived to be 104. When asked the secret to a long life, she replied: “love, laughter, learning… and stairs.”

“That’s always stuck with me,” Sloan said. “����ֱ�� is important. It’s a good thing to remember.”

Sloan will graduate from the College of Arts and Sciences with a , with interdisciplinary studies in communications, creative expression and humanities. His communications courses taught him some of the theory behind his job as a salesman.

“It’s not just the words when we communicate,” he said. “It’s the gestures, the body language.”

Better yet, Sloan is just as much a part of campus and the Louisville community as any student. He’s an avid Cardinals sports fan, holding courtside season tickets to women’s volleyball. He also regularly attends baseball, men’s and women’s basketball games.

Sloan is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Louisville, which has more than 400 members and is the 13th-largest club among Rotary International’s 45,000 clubs. The club sponsors scholarships, hosts guest speakers and supports humanitarian efforts.

“It’s a bunch of do-gooders doing good in the community,” he said.

Sloan has watched more than a dozen graduations of his children and grandchildren over the years. On Dec. 12, many of them will come to watch him take his turn. And when the moment comes to cross the stage and receive his diploma, he said one emotion comes to mind: happiness.

“I’ll be very happy,” he said. “And I think I might even continue taking courses here after.”

The agency will offer a variety of services for clients — UofL colleges, schools or departments — in social media, branding, video production, event planning, public relations, digital content, research, advertising and influencer marketing. The Bird’s Nest will charge a modest fee for services negotiated between the agency and the client. All fees will be used to support student initiatives such as supplies, professional development, scholarships, conferences and student work.

Students from any college within UofL can participate in the Bird’s Nest, which began as an idea in 2019 from Karen Freberg, professor in Strategic Communication, and Al Futrell, department chair, both in the Department of Communication, and Joey Wagner, owner of the JWagner Group and chair of the board of advisors for the Bird’s Nest.

“The Bird’s Nest exemplifies the value of a liberal arts education,” said Arts & Sciences Interim Dean David Owen. “While students are discovering new knowledge and understanding inside the classroom, they are also acquiring real-world experience outside the classroom, with the potential to transform lives and society. Further, I am committed to making the Bird’s Nest a campus-wide learning opportunity for the entire UofL student community.”

In addition to Wagner, professionals from businesses around Louisville will form the student agency’s board of advisors. Some of the largest global brands are already represented on board, including Churchill Downs, Onyx + Rose, Starbucks, Brown-Forman, Blitzmetrics, adidas, UofL Athletics and more.

“This is going to be a game changer for not only students enrolled at the University of Louisville, but the entire community,” said Freberg, who is also serving as the director of the agency. “The Bird’s Nest will empower students to gain marketable skills that are aligned with the industry through engaged learning and professional opportunities with the community.”

Hailee Andrews, a senior communications major and director of content for The Bird’s Nest, said the experience has so far been rewarding and “almost surreal to see all of our hard work finally come to life.” 

“I am excited to challenge my creativity and learn from some of the best. The community surrounding The Bird’s Nest is developing into something that is going to help like-minded individuals in our generation reach their greatest potential,” Andrews said. 

Sydney Baker, a communications graduate student and director of strategy, said having the opportunity to gain agency experience and work with real clients will “undeniably contribute to my success as a professional post-graduation.” 

“This will further drive student-success by providing a space for students to be creative and gain meaningful experience in our fields that will help jumpstart our careers. I’m very grateful to Dr. Freberg, the other directors and advisors for all their hard work in creating a solid foundation for The Bird’s Nest. I am so proud of what The Bird’s Nest represents and can’t wait to see what this program brings to our community,” added Zaire Robinson, marketing senior and director of Communication.

“Being a part of The Bird’s Nest has pushed me above and beyond what I thought I could do,” said Jacey Wells, a sophomore communications major and director of outreach. “We are so excited to welcome the University of Louisville community and I can’t wait to see where the future takes us.” 

The Bird’s Nest is launching its services this semester, along with a fundraising campaign  to modernize the physical space (Strickler Hall rooms 107 and 111) that will house the agency.

For more information and inquiries about The Bird’s Nest, contact the leadership team at  birdsnest@louisville.edu. Follow along on social by connecting with The Bird’s Nest on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn at @thebirdsnestlou.

KRM is a nonprofit organization in Louisville dedicated to providing resettlement services to refugees through faith-and agency-based co-sponsorship in order to promote self-sufficiency and successful integration into the community.

As part of that internship, Werner worked as a Spanish ESL instructor for Cuban refugees and also did some interpretation work for her students. In the spring, when the pandemic accelerated, Werner had to leave the classroom and the face-to-face work she was doing with students, switching to other tasks that do not require direct contact.  

“I primarily conducted practice interviews for the citizenship test with refugees via telephone. I also utilized Spanish interpreting skills during the interviews. I worked remotely from my back porch. It was definitely an adjustment. I am grateful, however, that I was able to continue my work remotely, despite the crisis,” Werner said.

Werner, who is an honors student studying communication with a minor in Spanish, says the internship with Kentucky Refugee Ministries has greatly benefited her as she prepares for life after her May 2021 graduation.

“My Spanish speaking skills have improved and my interpersonal communication skills have been refined. As a Communications major and Spanish minor, I believe this internship has also aided me in seriously considering my career path,” she said. “I plan on entering the public relations and sales field, while also utilizing my Spanish speaking abilities. I am hoping medical interpreting, alongside medical sales will provide me with both aspects.”

It was UofL’s strong communication and foreign language departments that drew Werner to campus in the first place. As for this internship, beyond helping her developing a stronger professional skillset, it has also helped Werner develop soft skills and find a purpose.

“Every day I entered my ESL classroom or picked up the telephone to conduct an interview, I have been overwhelmed with joy. It has been a fulfilling opportunity to contribute to the needs of refugees,” she said. “My cultural awareness and overall perspective have been enhanced by my hardworking, humorous and resilient students.”

Story written by Stuart Esrock, associate professor in the Department of Communications. Contributions from Alicia Kelso, OCM.