Meet the 2026-27 Community Outreach Fellows
Community Outreach Fellows serve as part-time members of the Harward Center staff, helping to connect the college to the off-campus community in mutually transformative ways. Each Fellow is responsible for working with Harward Center staff and community partners to coordinate and/or develop site- or issue-based volunteer programs.
Ashmita Adhikari ‘29
Hometown: Chitwan, Nepal
Majors: Economics and Theater
Minor: Film and screen studies
Ashmita loves outdoor activities such as rock climbing and hiking. She began her journey of serving the community during her first year at Bates as a Bonner Leader. Through Bonner, she has been involved in mentoring, actively participating in the Aspirations Club, and supporting Art Van events. This year, she is very excited to be part of the COF team and continue contributing to the Lewiston community. She believes that through creative expression and art therapy, people can find meaningful ways to connect, express themselves, and build a stronger sense of community.
Ashmita coordinates Arts Programming.
Sophie Cohen ’29
Hometown: Lee, Massachusetts
Major: Undeclared
Sophie is a sophomore who became involved with the Lewiston-Auburn community her freshman year. She served as a mentor at Lewiston High School through the Aspirations Club, and will now be continuing the work of Madi Mettler ’26 and Sarah Jane Gavin’26 as the new overseer of LHS mentorship program! As a new Community Outreach Fellow, she is looking forward to collaborating with peers both inside and outside the Bates community.
Sophie coordinates the Mentoring Program at Lewiston High School.
Anjali Dasari ’27
Hometown: Acton, Massachusetts
Major: Biochemistry
Anjali is a Biochemistry major and became involved with the Harward Center by starting an arts and crafts volunteering initiative with a local senior living facility. She is passionate about community service, and is excited to be working with the Harward Center this year!
In her free time, she enjoys reading, painting, and exploring new restaurants in Maine.
Anjali coordinates projects focused on Pre-health.
Rowan Drant ’29
Hometown: Washington, DC
Major: Politics
Minor: Teacher Education
Rowan is a sophomore majoring in Politics and minoring in Teacher Education who has worked in the Lewiston Public schools at many different levels and in many different roles. He has worked in high school multilingual Literacy and English classrooms as well as doing literacy tutoring with middle school students. This year, he will be working with the Lewiston Middle School as well as the Boys and Girls Clubs. Rowan loves the CEL components of his classes at Bates and that is what drew him to take on a bigger role working with the community. His love for education paired with his passion for helping others led him to apply to Bates and are some of the most important things to him. He is very excited to work as a Harward Center Community Outreach Fellow and hopes to continue to make a positive impact in the Lewiston/Auburn community.
Rowan coordinates projects with Lewiston Middle School and The Boys & Girls Club.
Aahana Dutta ’29
Hometown: Princeton, New Jersey
Major: Politics
Minor: Law and Society (GEC)
Aahana was introduced to the Harward Center through the Bonner Leadership Program. Last year, she did the majority of her community engagement work as a Bonner at the Drop In Center in Auburn where she was able to meet so many wonderful residents from the Lewiston/Auburn community. This year, she is extremely excited to explore the community further through her work as a Community Outreach Fellow. She is so looking forward to helping other students find a placement that further brightens their time here at Bates!
Aahana coordinates projects focused on Housing.
Natalie Gersen ‘28
Hometown: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Major: Sociology and Politics
Minor: Teacher Education
As a sophomore, Natalie loves to run, read, watch sitcoms, and hang out with friends!! Natalie began her involvement in the Lewiston community as a freshman, working at a women’s drop in center, as well as mentoring students at Auburn Middle School. This year, she will be developing community engagement programs with local initiatives for unhoused members of our community. Natalie was drawn to Bates because of its emphasis on community engaged learning, both in the classroom and beyond, and attributes her work in the community to the wonderful sociology programs at Bates that integrate CEL into their curriculum. She is so excited for her work as a Harward Center Community Outreach Fellow and looks forward to a great year ahead!!
Natalie coordinates programming focused on Housing Insecurity and accessibility. (Fall Semester)
Hazel Handy ’27
Hometown: Brattleboro, Vermont
Majors: Politics and Environmental Studies
Minor: Teacher Education
Hazel Handy ‘27 is a double major in Environmental Studies and Political Science, with a minor in Teacher Education. She has experience working with youth as a math teaching aide at Lewiston Middle School, a volunteer at IFKA Community Services, a reading recovery aide at Farwell Elementary, a Resident Assistant at the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont, and a peer mentor at The Experiment Digital for their STEAM program. During the 2026-27 academic year, she is also student-teaching U.S. History at Lewiston High School. Additionally, she is the coordinator of Bates Model United Nations’ annual conference, which invites middle schoolers from across Maine to the Bates campus for an immersive MUN conference. Seeing youth engage thoughtfully with global issues through MUN over the past three years has been beyond inspiring. In her free time, Hazel enjoys learning about the natural world, reading the memoirs of her heroes, playing basketball, singing karaoke, trying her hand at various crafts, and long conversations with family and friends.
At the Harward Center, the Bates Civic Action Team and America Reads/ America Counts were foundational to helping Hazel discover her passion for working with youth. She has found that each day in a K-12 classroom revives youthfulness, patience, and curiosity within her. She is very excited to uphold the impact of the ARAC and BCAT programs as this year’s coordinator.
Hazel coordinates the BCAT (Bates Civic Action Team) and America Reads/America Counts (ARAC) programs.
Charlotte Hansen ’28
Charlotte will coordinate the Mentoring Program at Auburn Middle School (Winter Semester)
Ruby Hill ’27
Hometown: Berkeley, California
Majors: Mathematics and Economics
Minor: Digital and Computational Studies
Ruby is a double major in Mathematics and Economics with a minor in Digital and Computational Studies. She loves spending time on the soccer field with her teammates, playing music, being outdoors, and exploring new places with friends and family. She got involved with the Harward Center through the Aspirations Club, where she started as a mentor and first-year representative for the club. This year, she will be coordinating Aspirations Days— an educational college and career program for local 8th-grade students. Ruby looks forward to continuing the work that Lily Houser started in this role and furthering the connections between the Bates community and the students in the Lewiston-Auburn area. On campus, she also serves as a fitness center attendant in Davis and as a captain on the Women’s Soccer team.
Ruby coordinates Aspirations Programming.
Frances Hochleutner ’28
Hometown: Brookline, Massachusetts
Majors: Politics and Psychology
Frances loves spending her time in Lewiston going for runs and bike rides along the Androscoggin. She first became involved with the Harward Center through coaching a recreational soccer team for middle schoolers and teaching art through the 21st Century program. Frances is excited to continue her work as an arts programming community outreach fellow to grow partnerships between Bates, local arts organizations and the L/A community.
Frances coordinates Arts Programming. (Fall Semester)
Evangeline Kpetsey ’27
Hometown: Accra, Ghana
Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Digital & Computational Studies
Evangeline enjoys reading, listening to afrobeats, and spending her weekends crocheting.
She was introduced to community engagement when she took a sociology course on Privilege, Inequality, and Power and collaborated with the YWCA to host their ‘Stand Against Racism’ event. Through this experience, she learned about the diverse and rich community of Lewiston and was inspired to spend as much time at Bates as possible, engaging in various activities. She is an international student from Ghana, and with her home far away, she hopes to make Lewiston her second home.
Evangeline coordinates programs for Aging Populations.
Clementine Paarlberg ’27
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Major: American Studies, Concentrating in Civic Engagement
Clementine is excited to continue working with Rosati this year. She is an American Studies major with a concentration in civic engagement through the Harward Center. She first became involved with Rosati Leadership Academy through a class with Professor Kane her sophomore year, and has loved being a part of the Rosati community ever since. She also loves photography, music, and Lake Michigan!
Clementine coordinates After School Programs with Rosati Leadership Academy.
Trinity Roesch ‘27
Hometown: Inwood, West Virginia
Majors: Mathematics and Gender & Sexuality Studies
Trinity was drawn to Bates in part because of the Harward Center and the school’s emphasis on the greater community in Lewiston. Being involved as a mentor and tutor since her freshman year has helped Trinity find her sense of self at Bates and feel connected to the community beyond campus. In her free time, Trinity enjoys reading, fiber art, and connecting with friends and family.
Trinity coordinates the Lewiston Middle School Lunch Program.
Juno Rogers ‘28
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Major: Sociology
Minor: Hispanic Studies
Juno was drawn to Bates for its commitment to community engagement, which has helped her strengthen her sense of place in Lewiston. She loves volunteering at Rosati Leadership Academy. As a track and field athlete, she believes in the power that comes from being part of a team. Juno’s favorite things include sports, backcountry trips, exploring public transit systems, and making things.
Juno coordinates the Community Liaison Program. (Winter Semester)
Jillian Scott-Lewis ’27
Hometown: Portland, OR
Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Religious Studies
Jilly is a Biochemistry major with a minor in Religious Studies. She loves being outside, spending time with friends, running and reading. When she came to Bates she knew she wanted to be involved with the Harward Center and community engagement. She started volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters and with Blake Street and Meadowview through the brunches program. She is excited to continue this work with the Playground Pals program! She loves the LA area and is always looking for new ways to be involved and connect with more people. She thinks that the Harward Center is one of the best parts of Bates and that everyone should be involved.
Jilly coordinates Playground Pals.
Renee Shrestha ’29
Hometown: Revere, Massachusetts
Majors: Biology and Religious Studies
Renee is an avid reader, who loves to go on walks and hang out with friends and family. Renee has always known that working with kids is a passion of hers. Her commitment to youth and community came alive while volunteering at a STEM fair for students from Lewiston Middle School, hosted by Bates. During that event she saw students with genuine excitement for learning, which made a lasting impression. Now at Bates, she continues to turn that passion into impactful community involvement. Through working with the youth in the L/A community, she hopes to create a safe and fun environment for kids.
Renee coordinates the Tree Street Youth and PAL Center Programs.
Sam Sidoti ’28
Hometown: , NH
Majors: Politics and Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies
Sam was first introduced to the Harward Center through her FYS (First-Year Seminar) titled “The Civic Self” where students were paired with community partners to learn about the importance of community engagement and the work that goes into it. From there, she became the community liaison for the Women’s Basketball team, worked with Rosati Leadership Academy, contributed to Aspirations Days, and continued to find passion for these connections. She is excited to take a step further this fall in the Community Outreach Fellow position and continue to strengthen her relationship with the Lewiston/Auburn community. Outside of community work, Sam loves being outdoors, going for drives, and playing on the Women’s Basketball team. She is so excited to work with the Harward Center this fall!
Sam coordinates the Community Liaison Program. (Fall Semester)
Elianna Umana Kimura ’29
Hometown: Westfield, Massachusetts
Major: Undeclared
Elianna is a sophomore from Westfield Massachusetts. She started engaging with the Lewiston community through the America Reads and America Counts program and the Trinity Jubilee Center. Elianna is super excited to be a community outreach fellow and continue engaging with different organizations this year!
When she isn’t volunteering or bustling away with other jobs and groups around campus, you can most likely find Elianna running, skiing, climbing, or nestled up in the quad reading a book.
Elianna coordinates projects focused on Immigrant Integration.
Ava Viola ‘29
Hometown: Melrose, Massachusetts
Major: Sociology
I knew that my engagement with the Lewiston community would be an important part of my experience at Bates upon my commitment, but was more formally introduced to community engaged learning in my FYS, Inequality, Community, and Social Change. My placement at the Drop In Center brought me closer to so many amazing people, including Bates Students and Lewiston community members. I feel very passionate about bringing these kinds of opportunities to the attention of my peers, as well as getting involved with some new places myself!
Outside of my community work, I enjoy thrifting, exploring new genres of music, spending time outdoors, and reading.
Ava coordinates projects focused on Food Access.
Noe Winter-Hamaoui ‘28
Hometown: Mamaroneck, New York
Major: Psychology
Minor: Educational Studies
Noe became involved in the Lewiston-Auburn community her freshman year through community-engaged work at Farwell Elementary School for an education class. She then decided to participate in the Montello Mentorship program at Montello Elementary School, where she mentored a sixth-grade student through playing board games, sharing stories, and providing encouragement and support. Noe also took Adolescent and Childhood Literacy courses, which inspired her to encourage literacy skills and build confidence in reading among elementary school students. She hopes to help support students’ reading development and foster a positive relationship with books.
Noe coordinates the Book Buddies Program.