• President, Jen Crawford ’01
• Vice President, Tahsin I. Alam ’04
• Secretary, Pamela Batchelder Johnson ’91
• Treasurer, Susan Peillet Yule ’78
• Past President, Henry T. Geng ’13
• Staff Liaison, Justin Fortier, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement
• Advisor, Marianne Cowan ’92, Associate Director, Bates Center for Purposeful Work

College Key gifts have long supported students’ career development activities. Many of us remember the positive impact a CDIP Job Shadow or Ladd Internship had on our learning and early career readiness, and that strong Bates tradition lives on in the Center for Purposeful Work. In particular, the Purposeful Work Job Shadow Program matches hundreds of students with alumni and parent hosts each year to visit or visit virtually and shadow them through a day of work. Purposeful Work receives volunteer offers from alumni and parents in education, healthcare, art, finance, entertainment, entrepreneurship, advocacy, fashion, tech… For any student who receives financial aid from Bates, Purposeful Work uses funds from the College Key to support the student’s travel expenses to shadow their host in person in the Job Shadow Program. This access to face time with an alum, the ability to be “on the ground” in a workplace where they might be themselves one day, and the doors opened to the alumni network by virtue of these meaningful visits are invaluable and powerful.

J.J. and Sara Cummings ‘89 have been generous hosts of Job Shadow students for several years, and students always come away with eyes and horizons opened wide: 

“Through this three-day job shadow, I was able to gain insight into what a role at Boeing looks like, particularly for someone with a military background. It was invaluable to learn about what goes on behind the scenes of preparing for military contracts, and marketing.

I was curious about military contracting, and left my job shadow sure that this is something I am interested in pursuing further. Additionally, I learned more about military lawyers, something I knew nothing about previously, which opened potential career avenues for me to explore as well.

During my time at Bates, the PW job shadow program has been invaluable for my professional growth. As a first generation student, networking has been particularly intimidating and the facilitator role PW takes is amazing! I have been able to fully explore my various interests while making incredible connections with Bates Alumni.”

Thank you, College Key members, for your steadfast and generous support of students to engage in such transformational career exploration through the Center for Purposeful Work!

To echo our College Key President’s message, thank you for your continued support of the Bates student community. As an active member, your $30 annual dues make it possible to provide meaningful, impactful gifts that respond to the immediate needs of Bates students.

We are truly grateful for your commitment. You can submit your dues or make dues/gifts through our on-line link or checks by regular mail. If you’re unsure whether your membership is current, please feel free to contact me.

We hope you will continue your support by keeping your membership active. Thank you for making a difference for Bates students.

Sincerely,

Susan Peillet Yule ’78
Treasurer, The College Key

The Distinguished Alumni in Residence Program was established in 2003 by The College Key to bring alumni of note to campus to interact with students and faculty. DAIR speakers usually give a lecture, attend classes, and meet with students individually and in group sessions. 

Join us on April 9 for a special DAIR conversation with Bates alumnus John Caraffa ‘76. John has built a distinguished career in journalism and storytelling, bringing thoughtful perspective and compelling narratives to audiences across multiple media platforms. In this event, he will share insights from his professional journey and reflect on the power of storytelling in shaping how we understand the world today. We hope you’ll join fellow members of the Bates community for what promises to be an engaging and inspiring discussion.

We invite you to nominate outstanding alumni for membership. The College Key recognizes outstanding Bates alumni; encourages and recognizes student academic and extracurricular achievement; supports academics, student life, and campus improvement; provides student aid, including scholarships and other kinds of financial assistance; and contributes to the general welfare of the College.

The College Key selects new alumni members based on the following criteria: service to the College, leadership in the community, success in chosen field, and character.

Check out who’s already a member on the College Key website. If you wish to nominate a Bates alumnus/a, complete your nomination by May 1, using this form.