Alumni Council News: April 2024

Share on LinkedIn Share on Bluesky

The current Alumni Council is very pleased to share with a few updates from the campus and our activities as we are striving to keep past council members better informed and engaged. We hope that these articles pique your curiosity, jog your mind of fond memories, and encourage you to continue to contribute to the Bates community.

In the last year, we surveyed many of you who remain valued volunteers for Bates to ask how you would like to remain in touch with your fellow past council members and receive updates from the Alumni Council and college staff. With significant positive feedback, we hope this newsletter will become a regular source of information for you, following our Alumni Council meeting schedule throughout the year.

In this issue, please enjoy the following topics:

We are looking forward to celebrating the inauguration of President Garry Jenkins in early May as part of our spring meeting. He and his husband Jon have been very active at games and events throughout the campus and they have already ingrained themselves into the Bates community. We are happy to welcome Garry to the Bates family and are excited to see his energy and enthusiasm continue.

This is the last year of Kevin Moore’s ’93 term as president. Leah Elsmore ’12 will be ascending to be the president in the summer, and we are currently working on selecting her vice president. We are also currently voting for Alumni Awards and new Alumni Council nominees. Please continue to provide your recommendations and nominees in the future for both awards and future AC members.

We want to encourage you to continue to engage with us and the events and offerings of Bates and our alumni community. We look forward to seeing you in your communities and/or on campus. Please look at the calendar of events to find one in your community.  As always, we want to hear from you. Please feel free to reach out to alumni@bates.edu with content ideas, discussion topics, or questions.

At your service,

The 2023-24 Alumni Council

  • Alumni Council
    Sub-Committees
  • Communications & Engaging Past Council
  • Karen Finocchio ’92, Chair
    Natalie Adler ’92
    Hank Geng ’13
    Donald McDade ’74
    Monica Rodriguez ’12
    Natalie Rodriguez ’92
    Terry Welch ’83
  • Governance
  • Leah Elsmore ’12, Chair
    David Akinyemi ’21
    Dan Barksy ’03
    Karen Finocchio ’92
    John Howard ’86
    Donald McDade ’74
    Kevin Moore ’93
    Flora Rice-Chan ’11
  • Recognition of Alumni Excellence
  • John Howard ’86, Co-Chair
    Matthew Bogyo ’93
    Steve Brackett ’85, P’22
    Fadia Felfe ’15
    Mahvash Hassan ’90
    Chuck James ’78
    Kevin Moore ’93
    Louis Weinstein ’68
  • Regional & Professional Development
  • J.J. Cummings ’89, Co-Chair
    Michelle Pham ’15, Co-Chair
    Dan Barsky ’03
    Heather Beebe ’85
    Allen Kendunga ’18
    Patrick Quirk ’03
    Flora Rice-Chan ’11
    Graeme Welds ’15

FY24 Mid-Year Progress Report

By Kevin Moore ’93, President

Our fall meeting was changed from an in-person gathering to celebrate the Inauguration of President Jenkins to a virtual meeting held in November. The council has been working on ways to support the Lewiston community after this fall’s tragedy. The committees have continued virtual work throughout the year. This has included working to ramp-up efforts to support alumni engagement with regional events. We look forward to building upon these efforts and seeing many of you at these events. We have also continued to evaluate our processes to ensure that we are both representative of and representing the entire Bates alumni body to the greatest extent possible.

Committee Work Highlights

Regional & Professional Development

Council Champions: J.J. Cummings ’89 and Michelle Pham ’15

Communications & Engaging Past Council

Council Champion: Karen Finocchio ’92

  • Launching the Council ‘Cats Newsletter to keep past Alumni Council members in the loop on group activity.
Recognition of Alumni Excellence

Council Champion: John Howard ’88

  • The Alumni Council is once again helping the college in recognizing outstanding alumni for their achievements and volunteer contributions through the Alumni Awards.
Governance

Council Champion: Leah Elsmore ’12

Council ’Cats Chat: Larry Handerhan ’05

By Karen Finocchio ’92

Winter Meeting Discussion Topics

During the Winter Meeting, the Alumni Council had two discussions related to events for the coming year. As engaged volunteers and Council ‘Cats, we want your feedback! 

Why do you come back to Bates?

By Donald McDade ’74

Each fall, the college welcomes alumni and families for a fall homecoming during Back to Bates. While some signature weekend features include the a capella concert, sporting events, and updates from campus leadership, college staff are curious what would draw in more alums. 

Some ideas discussed during our winter meeting included: 

  • Service projects in the greater Lewiston/Auburn area. 
  • Opportunities for alumni to talk with their peers and students about life after Bates.
  • Virtual engagement opportunities for those who can’t travel to campus but want to stay involved.

So, why do you come Back to Bates or what would draw you in? Is it to savor the crisp Maine season, to meet with others, to take in a favorite game, exhibit, concert or play? How do you reconnect with classmates, visit with fellow alumni and college staff — the friends you’ve made over the years? And, what’s missing? How can this weekend become better still? 

What’s the appetite for virtual engagement? 

By Natalie Adler ’92

While the college has shifted back to many in-person gatherings, there is still demand for virtual programming among the alumni base. The Alumni Council discussed these initial ideas, but we’re eager to hear your thoughts, too! 

  • Water cooler moments with Council Cats – see our first video with Larry Handerhan ’05.
  • Master Classes led by distinguished alums and/or Council Cats that enhance knowledge in areas of interest. 
  • A virtual lecture series featuring some of our most distinguished alums.
  • Q&A panel sessions between alumni and student leaders
  • Fireside chats with President Jenkins

Most importantly, we would love to hear your suggestions. What kinds of virtual engagements have you enjoyed or heard about? What was it about those activities that were appealing?  Were these entertaining? Did they allow for discourse? Did you learn something new?  All of the above? 

Who’s New on the Council?

By Monica Rodriguez ’12

As the Bates College community continues to thrive and evolve, it is always invigorating to welcome new members to its distinguished Alumni Council (“AC”). This quarter, I had the pleasure of connecting with David Akinyemi ’21, a recent addition to the council whose passion for technology and community engagement has made a significant impact both during his time at Bates and beyond. Join me as we delve into David’s journey, aspirations, and vision for their role in shaping the future of Bates College’s alumni network. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

Meet David Akinyemi ’21

Q: Can you share your background with us? What did you study at Bates and what have you been up to since graduation?

A: During my time at Bates, I played on the men’s basketball team, worked as a part of the Residential Life team, and pursued studies in Physics and Mathematics. Since graduating, I moved to San Francisco to work in the tech industry, where I am currently the CEO and co-founder of TUX, an AI protection platform for equity compensation.

Q: What drew you to join the Alumni Council?

A: The reason I was drawn to join the AC was the noticeable scarcity of Bates alumni in the San Francisco Bay Area tech sector. I cherished the opportunities and community I was part of at Bates but was concerned about the distance and difficulty in accessing opportunities in this area. Recognizing the need for change, I initiated conversations with the college to establish a pipeline between Bates and San Francisco.

Q: On the Alumni Council, we’re all about Bobcat pride! What makes it special to you?

A: What I value most about Bates are the people and the connections I forged. To this day, some of my closest friends are those I met at Bates. The complexity and uniqueness of the environment and the Bates experience have fostered bonds that feel like family. On a lighter note, I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Commons!

Q: As a new member of the Alumni Council, what are you most excited about in terms of contributing to the Bates community?

A: I am eager to enhance Bates’ presence here in San Francisco and to continue the initiatives with Purposeful Work aimed at introducing more tech industry opportunities to Bates students. Being one of the youngest members of the AC, I believe I can connect more profoundly with the current student body, leveraging those connections and insights to engage alumni, parents, and trustees more effectively.

Q: Let’s get to know your fun side! When you’re not busy with Alumni Council duties, what do you enjoy?

A: Outside my AC responsibilities, I enjoy staying physically active through weight lifting and playing basketball. Beyond sports, I am passionate about discovering new music and experimenting with culinary recipes; my latest favorite being braised short ribs.

Q: Lastly, we’re thrilled to have you on board. Is there anything else you’d like to share?

A: More than anything, I want past Alumni Council members and current students to know that I am fully committed to this role. Being a Batesie means embracing a ‘give-
first’ attitude that extends far beyond the winters in Lewiston, Maine.

Council ’Cats in the Wild!

Have you spotted a Council ‘Cat in the wild? Share your photos with us for inclusion in future newsletters by emailing alumni@bates.edu.

Pictured left: Karen Finocchio ’92 and past Alumni Council member Erica Seifert Plunkett ’86 at the Bates at the Boston Bruins event.