Alumni Spotlight with Shea Maultsby '83

In 24 years of Ivy League field hockey, only two African-American women have been named first team All-Ivy. In 1982, Shea Maultsby was the first to earn the distinction. 19 years later Princeton's Ilvy Friebe was not only named first-team All-Ivy but Ivy Player of the Year.

Tell us a little bit about your background, where you are from, what your major was and how you came to the Ivy League.

I was born and raised in Hackensack, N.J., where I graduated from high school. After completing extensive research on the universities and colleges in North America (I began the summer before attending ninth grade), I applied to two Ivy League universities. Although I had decided to attend another fine New York State university, I quickly changed my mind when I visited the Cornell University campus. I went onto study mathematics at Cornell and graduated from the Arts and Science College with a B.A. in 1983.

Was there a time when you thought, "Hey, I could go to an Ivy League school" or was that always in your mind?

I knew at a very young age that I would graduate from college, although neither of my parents attended. While in elementary school, I heard much about New Jersey's Ivy League university, Princeton. At that time, I began to develop an interest in the Ivy League. Attending a college that would provide a strong academic program, as well as athletic opportunities, was very important to me.

What perceptions did you have about the Ivy League when you first arrived?

Wow, everyone's so tense and intense! I was sure that most of the students did not have varied interests because they studied all of the time.

How did those perceptions met with reality?

During the first few weeks of the fall semester, it's the freshmen that are tense and intense. Once I made some friends and began settling into my daily campus life, I soon discovered that those around me were involved in many activities and had many interests. Of course, classes and studying were important, but the students participated in many other interesting campus efforts.

What about going to an Ivy League school most appealed to you?

I was interested in getting the best preparation to become a successful psychiatrist. I quickly realized that I could take advantage of the vast opportunities, as well as the state-of-art facilities and equipment, available at Cornell. I learned that getting a diverse education would provide me with the tools to be successful in a many areas. Having access to such a diverse education lead me to change my direction before my sophomore year; I decided to pursue a career in business and ultimately became an Actuary.

As an African-American, what experiences have stood out to you about adjusting to college in the Ivy League?

I attended a high school that was somewhat diverse ethnically and I grew up living close to New York City. When I attended Cornell University, there were approximately 500 African-American students (approximately four percent of the undergraduates) and I was one of two African-American members of the field hockey program. I had to adjust to what I considered a non-metropolitan town, in addition to teammates all of which came from backgrounds that were very different from my own. Although I quickly bonded with many of my teammates, I think it took longer to understand and appreciate our cultural differences. I must say that despite the lack of African-American participation in field hockey throughout the U.S., I never experienced any discrimination from my teammates or Ivy League opponents.

What were some of the most memorable moments for you as an athlete and a student?

Some of most memorable athletic moments are:
*Receiving my letter in field hockey as a freshman.
*Getting elected to serve as a team co-captain by my teammates.
*Getting elected to the Red Key Society by my athletic peers.
*Becoming the first African-American to be named to the First Team All Ivy in field hockey.

Also, I got quite a laugh every time my name appeared in the school newspaper (The Daily Sun) throughout my senior year, because it was always misspelled "Maultzby" (instead of "Maultsby").

As a student, my most memorable moments are:
*Writing my first successful computer program.
*Conducting my fellow symphony orchestra members while they recorded a percussion ensemble piece that I wrote.
*Interviewing fellow Cornell African-American student-athletes and athletic alumni for a paper.

What historical figure do you admire most and why?

Julius "Dr. J" Erving. Through dedication, a strong work ethic and determination, he excelled in athletics and academics. Mr. Irving learned to develop his self in many areas to prepare for his future, gaining skills that were valuable on the basketball court as well as in business. In addition to becoming one of the most recognized names in sports, he is a successful businessman with broad interests.

Who had the biggest influence on you as you grew up? Why?

My oldest sister, Jacquelyn M. Maultsby-Goodall, has had the biggest influence on me throughout my life. My sister, who is 14 years my senior, spent many hours teaching me to read and write before I attended school. Throughout my childhood and teenage years, she emphasized that I could do anything I wished to accomplish. She stressed that education and hard work were the ingredients towards achievement. She supported me in my every endeavor, academic and athletic.

In an age of ultra-glorification of athletes and sports, what would be the best advice you could give to a middle schooler about the value of education, and the best role for sports in their education?

A comprehensive education, focusing on academics, lasts a lifetime, far beyond the years that a career as a professional athlete can support. Take advantage of the educational opportunities presented to you, so that you can make a positive difference in others' lives. Do not be afraid to bring your "game-face" to class, work at academics the way you practice to make the varsity squad. This is not to say that sports are not important. Through participation in sports, you will develop confidence and learn teamwork, leadership and other skills that are used in business. You learn how to make your body healthy and strong. However, use sports as a tool to help obtain your overall goals.

What would be the best advice you could give to a young African-American who has aspirations to attend an Ivy institution?

Work at being the complete you. Yes, you must study and get good grades, but make sure that you develop other interests. Participate in sports, community activities and student events. Being a one-dimensional person, only learning from books and not through experiences, is not as healthy and rewarding as being involved in different activities that you enjoy.

***Please note, this story was written for a previous Ivy League Black History Month celebration. It is reproduced here for archival purposes and has not been updated.***